CELERY-CHINESE (KINTSAI)
CELERY-CHINESE (KINTSAI)
A$3.50
Out of stock
Apium graveolens
CELERY-CHINESE (KINTSAI) is smaller & more delicate than the celery we are used to. The long stems are thin, hollow & crispy. Grows best in a cooler climate, 15-24c. Plants may need shade if grown in a warmer season. The leaves are typically jagged on the edges. Central to many Asian soups or stews. It is one of the most commonly grown vegetables in China. The entire plant is used, either fresh or dried. Add leaves & stalks to flavor vegetable or meat soups, or use them in a stir-fry. In China, celery is sometimes served as a dish by itself, stir-fried with a little soy sauce & sugar. The leaves can be used to add a wonderful crunch & flavor to salads or as an alternative to watercress as a garnish. Sow in spring & autumn.
Surface sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost. Light is needed for germination. Ideal temp. 10-15°C. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle, after danger of frost has passed.
| Germination Time (Days) | 15 – 25 |
| Maturity Time (Days) | 120 – 140 |
| Sowing Depth (mm) | 4 |
| Plant Spacing (cm) | 15 – 30 |
| Row Spacing (cm) | 30 – 55 |
| pH | 6 – 7.5 |
| Soil Temperature (°C) | 10 – 15 |
| Hardy / Frost Tender | Hardy |
| Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings | Raise Seedlings |
| Seed Preparation | – |
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 feet)
Season of Interest
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Temperature Range
15 - 24 °C
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Bienial
Frost Hardy / Tender
Frost Tender
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Part Shade
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Raise Seedlings
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained soil
pH
6.0 - 7.0
Soil Temperature
15 - 20 °C (59 - 68 °F)
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds in warm water for a few hours
Sowing Depth
0.5 cm (¼ inch)
Plant Spacing
15 - 20 cm (6 - 8 inches)
Row spacing
30 - 40 cm (12 - 16 inches)
Watering
Regular watering; keep soil consistently moist
Germination Time (Days)
7 - 14 days
Harvest Time (Days)
80 - 100 days
Good Companion Plants
Cabbage, Beans, Onions
Bad Companion Plants
Potatoes, Corn
Pests
Aphids, Spider Mites, Cutworms
Diseases
Leaf Blight, Downy Mildew
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
