Celery Seed

[Geoff]

Or more correctly Celery Leaf seed.
Last year we grew Kintsai Chinese Celery and Celery Leaf (Apium Graveolens) - almost the same as each other - they were excellent in Winter soups.
This year the balance of the packets have failed to germinate, sown in modules under cover same as last year.
The question is, is this a seed that it is unwise to keep from year to year?

[alan refail]

Hi Geoff

I found Kintsai to be less viable than ordinary leaf celery - but even this used to lose its viability after a couple of years. As you will gather I don't grow it any more - but I agree with you, it is great in soups.

Alan

[Johnboy]

Hi Geoff and Alan,
I have grown both in the past but no longer do so and I feel that the whole family of Celery are a bit iffy as regards seed storage and used to buy fresh seed every year.
I appreciate that this is not Celery but people also like Flat Parsley in soups and stews and although I no longer grow it as I do not have the need now. I used to grow Hamburg Parsley which is the root vegetable form of Parsley and if the seeds are sown fairly thickly down the row and thinned fairly early the amount of flat leafed Parsley for freezing is incredible. I used to use that in soups to great effect. This means that you not only get a supply of flat leafed Parsley but also the roots, later on in the season, that look very similar to Parsnips but taste entirely different. Roasted these roots are very very tasty.
JB.

[Mike Vogel]

I know that this is a different mmber of the family, but I have found celeriac seeds to germinate and produce a good crop after 4 years [this year has seen the last of my celeriac 'President' from the OGC.

But I have NEVER been able to germinate Hamburg parsley.

mike

[Geoff]

Thanks for the replies. Opening this thread worked a treat - came back this evening and the Celery Leaves were up sown on May 27th - perhaps the Kintsai will follow.