Regrowing store bought celery

Everything I have read said it cannot be done so I am hoping someone HAS done it with success...just cuz I'd love to do it too:)

Julia, Horseshoe said This:

Am I being misunderstood about growing carrots in pots? I use seed not tops? Maybe I should of specified that?

If you're using seed to grow carrots Ves, then you are ok and should have no problem with success. However, if you're trying to grow them from tops, then according to Shoe, all you can expect to get out of it will be seeds. Whatever root you get from growing tops will not be edible.

I hope that clarifies it for you. =)

Was kinda afraid of that in terms of the celery. Have organic carrot seeds to start so I won't try to start the tops of store-bought carrots. The celery would have been nice but I wouldn't have been able to grow enough for our consumption anyway.

I went outside with DH earlier, to show off my Hollyhock sprout (heeheeheee), and he was admiring my salad. Well, upon closer inspection, I found that I actually have a baby stalk growing, it's about 2 inches tall now!! A **real** stalk!!! OK, now I'm really excited! =) Cindy, don't give up hope! ^_^

Keeewwwl !!

I haven't thrown out my potted celery yet. Now I'm interested to see just how far it will grow.

I figure, whether or not we actually DO get stalks or not, it will still be an interesting little experiment... and heck, one my kids are/were loving LOL! I'm still interested to see just how far this will grow. And, ya know, if I get nothing but seeds from them, then that's still A-OK with me. One less seed package I gotta buy LOL! Will be a fun experiment either way!!

Besides, even if the celery doesn't grow stalks, I also recently read that the leaves are edible as well

http://www.green-talk.com/2010/09/24/celery-leaves-cook-or-discard-them/

So, if that's the case, and even if we get no stalks, atleast the leaves are still usable/edible!

I do throw the leaves (if they're in good shape) into soups and stews. Hmm - wonder how they'd taste added to a pesto???

I've never used the leaves in anything, but after reading that article, I'm thinking I might try to save some... maybe even toss them in the dehydrator and dry them out to use in soups and such for seasonings :)

I personally like the leaves better than the stalks. I find celery in any quantity overbearing. The leaves to me have a much more delicate taste.

Earlier I mentioned a book I have about growing kitchen veggies, and I just ordered an updated version from Amazon. Ebay has it, too. It's called,
"Don't Throw It, Grow It! 68 Windowsill Plants to Grow from Kitchen Scraps".
You should all check it out!

*giggles* I just might! LOL! How much was the kindle version of it? Is that what you got, or did you get the actual paperback/hardback version?

I don't have a kindle, so I got a paperback, but hey, they might have it!

found the paperback on amazon, but they don't offer a kindle version it seems :(

I'll have to wait a bit to order it anyway lol. But, adding it to my "wish list" so I don't lose it LOL!

The book sounds interesting. Does the book go into detail as to what kind of result is achieved in terms of quantity/quality? I love the idea of experimenting but, with limited vegetable gardening space, I'd like to maximize the result.

I don't know, Cindy. I only have the 1977 version, and it doesn't go into that. Maybe the new one will.

Well, today I "watered" one of my pots of sweet basil sproutlings with what I'm calling a tea of coffee lol. I took some used coffee grounds and put them in a new coffee filter, tied it off, and let it steep overnight in a cup of water. Today, I watered just one pot of sweet basal sproutlings, hoping itll rid that pot of those pesky pests that all my herb seem to have attracted (same pests that I initially found in the soil of the celery) Not sure this will work, or if it will wind up killing the seedlings, hense why i'm only trying it on one pot. A girlfriend of mine said it sounds like its some kind of mite and to spray them with diluted dish soap and transplant them. Problem is, they are too small yet to transplant. Only have first set of leaves. Sigh.

Good luck with the basil seedlings and watered down coffee. When the temps are above freezing outdoors, I water down any leftover brewed coffee, 4 parts water to 1 part coffee, to feed my Hinoki cypress. It kinda sits under the house overhang and can use the water anyway. It does suffer some winter damage so the gentle feeding hopefully helps it recover some of the lost foliage.

How are the plants doing, everyone? I just got my new book in the mail, and can't wait to see what's in it!

Ky - you'll have to give us the scoop on surprising kitchen scraps to grow. :)
I did check in on my celery yesterday and it does have a few roots on it. The inner stalks with leaves are about 2 inches taller than the cut surface. I keep it in a clear plastic Wendy's cup with a lid to hold moisture. Sorry - not a big picture-taker.

Well, the coffee treatment didnt kill my herbs.... but, it also didn't kill the insects either. I have noticed though, that with more time between waterings, it seems like the insects aren't nearly as bad. Next chance I get, I'll get some kind of insecticidal spray or something to try to kill them. I hate having to go that route, but, if need be...

It does seem like I'm "flushing" some out with waterings. I see them floating on the top of the water when I go to dump the drip tray.

I will say this much though, I am wondering if these little stinkers might be stunting their growth some. Most still only have their first set of leaves, even after all this time! The only ones im seeing that are STARTING to get their second set of leaves is the oregano, but still, those are still very small in size. So small, in fact, that when I water them, they just kind of flop over and lay on the soil for a bit before straightening themselves out (they arent growing UP). The oregano does seem to be the ones with the least pests though (atleast, the fewest being flushed out through the drainage holes.)

I think, though, since this week is supposed to be in the 65-75 degree range during the day, I'll let them hang out outside for a bit during the day and bring them in at night. Maybe getting some good sunlight will help them out some.

Sounds like your seedlings are way too small to transplant yet into different soil. The little varmints could be feasting on growing roots. The fact that they're being flushed out with watering is promising but still doesn't sound good.

Yeah, I know :-(

I'm going to try some kind of insectiside that wont harm the herb plants, and see if that helps anything. Just gotta figure out what insecticide I should get, I guess. lol. OY! I mean, the seedlings do still look pretty healthy, they just seem to be growing slowly. For all I know, it could be normal. This is the first time I'm trying to grow this, so, I'm not entirely sure what to expect. They appear to be nice and green, don't seem to be too leggy (though, I'm sure after a few days outside, that'll help them tremendously!), they are just growing very slowly, in my opinion.

It's 54 degrees out right now, supposed to get up to 59 degrees. Do you think it would be too chilly for me to stick them outside on my front porch for a little shaded sunlight?

I bet that wouldn't hurt 'em one little bit... but that's just me. Personally, I would have 'em outside, but then again, that's just me. ;)

Yeah, I let them hang out outside for a few hours today, nicely protected by the indoor/outdoor greenhouse I move around lol. I'll most likely do that every day this week since its supposed to be between mid 50s to mid 60s or higher all week this week, with the occational rain.

I'm thinking (not always a good thing) that your seedlings could go outside when it's in the 60's or above for a few hours. 50's might be a bit chilly for some of the babies. While rain is a good thing for bigger plants, it sounds like your seedlings are still too little to sit in the rain as they'd get knocked down. Can they go under a shelter of some sort?

Yeah, after posting that, I thought twice about giving them a drink of rainwater lol. I can just put them in the indoor/outdoor greenhouse so they can still get some sunlight, the greenhouse will keep them warm (was shocked at how warm inside that baby was yesterday, even though the highest the temp got was 59!), and they wont get smushed by the rain lol.

Ive read that you can start herb seeds (some anyway, the ones i have in particular) outdoors once daytime temps reach 70 degrees and night time temps are above 50. So, I don't see how putting them outside in the greenhouse when its in the mid 50s outside could really do much harm, as long as I put them in an area that would be warmed by the sun. That's what I did yesterday.

I had a little greenhouse - flexible clear plastic over a frame - and it can get really warm in there when the sun's out. So warm that I had to use a fan even though it would be much cooler outside.

You could always collect rainwater in a container and put it into a spritzer.

True!!

So, how's everyone's regrown celery doing? Haven't heard anything from ya's in a while! Inquiring minds want to know! LOL!

I've now got 2 celery bottoms that I can pot up and re-try this experiment... just as soon as my hubby brings me home some new potting soil lol! I asked him to pick me up some on his way home from work today, that and seed starter mix. If he remembers to do so, then this week I'll pot up my celery and start my tomato seeds, and maybe peppers lol.

Amazed at how well our weather has been holding up this week! It's maintained low to mid 70 degree days just about every day this week! Today it's only supposed to reach 64 and have a chance of some storms moving in, but still!!! Makes me wonder if spring has sprung early for us this year! LOL! It's been so nice, in fact, that I've left my potted herb seedlings outside in the indoor/outdoor greenhouse since tuesday! They seem to be doing pretty well still.

My MIL told me I should be able to put my bulbs in the ground now too, so, I might start that project this week as well.

My one celery "plant" has sprouted roots and the interior of the cut base does continue to grow. I started it in a mix of vermiculite and perlite (like I would when rooting cuttings) and will have to think about actually planting it in some soil. Been too busy with outdoor cleanup to do much else. The outrageously warm weather here has me really hopping to get the cleanup done since everything is emerging/blooming early. And while it's oh so tempting to start veggie plants, I still gotta go with last average frost dates 'cause there's still a chance for snow over the next few weeks.

I just returned from Lowe's and Home Depot (searching for different varieties of daffodils) and the garden depts. were swarming with plant buyers. You're right, it's still early, and Mother Nature can be cruel.

My celery, along with the 2 lettuces, are still flourishing, though nothing edible as of yet... unless I want to strip the lettuces bare nekkid.

First pic is the celery, second is green leaf, third is romaine.

They're so CUTE!

Heeheee, thank you!!! They're not nearly as cute as my first Hyacinth bud though!! =)