Four Seasons Celery Seeds

This leaf celery suits patient gardeners who can water often. It is slow at the start but, once established, keeps producing for months.

1. Soak seeds for a few hours, then press them onto moist seedling mix and barely cover — they need some light to sprout.
2. Keep the surface constantly moist and shaded; cover the tray with a damp cloth or clear lid until seedlings appear.
3. Transplant or thin to 15–20 cm apart when seedlings have 4–5 leaves.
4. From about two months, cut the outer stalks and let the centre keep growing.

Tip: in lowland heat, celery does best in morning sun with afternoon shade. Never let the soil dry out — dry soil makes stalks stringy and bitter.