Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Soil and climate

Climate
In colder climate and on the hills, celery behaves as a biennial plant but in the plains, it behaves as an annual plant. Celery is a moisture-loving plant requiring a cold climate. It can be successfully cultivated as a winter crop in areas which are free from severe frost and have low atmosphereric humidity during February-March when the crop flowers.
Northern and Central India including the hills, that have cold and dry climate are most suited for celery cultivation. It is sensitive to very low day temperature (5°-10°C) during vegetative growth causing early bolting. A combination of 12° to 15° and 22° to 25°C day-night temperatures gives 80% seed germination within 2 weeks.

Soil
• Celery can be successfully cultivated on all soils except saline, alkaline and water-logged soils. However, loamy soils which are rich in organic matter and retentive of soil moisture are the best. Celery is not suited to clayey soils. It does not withstand water stagnation. Celery is sensitive to the extremes of soil reaction; a soil pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 is suitable for its cultivation.