Leafy Chinese Celery Seed Packet, Apium Graveolens VAR. Secalinum

Leafy Chinese Celery Seed Packet, (Apium Graveolens VAR. Secalinum)

• From Thailand.
• Chinese Leaf celery is like the type that is used in Europe. It looks similar to parsley but tastes exactly like regular stalk celery, but with a slightly stronger, herbier taste. It is a darker green, with thin, rounded, flexible stalks and curly, aromatic leaves; it is much easier to grow than its "big brother". Great for container gardens and small herb gardens.
• The celery is used and taste just like its giant cousins but only gets 20 - 25cm (8 -12”) tall and very leafy. It is a cut-and-come-again plant and grows back beautifully. No blanching is required. The leaves are best eaten while tender it can be used like an herb. Great in dressings garnish soups. Stews and salads, pies and stuffings or any recipe where celery leaves are used.
• There are 3 different kinds of celery plants; normal (sometimes called blanched or bleached) celery, leaf celery and celeriac (sometimes called celery root). These are all three related, and will cross pollinate if grown next to each other. Leaf celery is also called cutting celery, parcel, smallage, Zwolsche Krul, and German celery. Sowing: Sow in Spring from February to June.
• Germination can be erratic and the seed is best surface sown indoors or in a greenhouse. Outdoor sown seed rarely germinates satisfactorily. Start the seeds indoors no sooner than 2-3 months before your last frost date. Leaf celery is a bit finicky to get started but once transplanted into the garden, it is very easy to grow. It will take around 85 days from sowing to first harvest.