Fertilisers and irrigation
Fertilisers
Apply the following rates of magnesium and trace elements to the soil every 18 months:
50kg/ha Magnesium sulphate to supply magnesium
20kg/ha Manganese sulphate to supply manganese
18kg/ha Borax to supply boron
18kg/ha Iron sulphate to supply iron
18kg/ha Copper sulphate to supply copper
18kg/ha Zinc sulphate to supply zinc
2kg/ha Sodium molybdate to supply molybdenum.
If necessary, apply 50 cubic metres of compost per hectare one to four days before transplanting. This adds organic matter, supplies nutrients for the first three weeks and helps retain moisture in the soil. Bulky residues from preceding crops in the rotation have the same effect and celery crops following others such as cauliflower and broccoli may not need compost.
Celery is a shallow-rooted crop with high fertiliser requirement. A comprehensive fertiliser program for year-round production on sandy soils called ‘The 3Phase method for growing celery’ is available.
Table 1 shows the rates of fertiliser required to supply certain nutrients and their effect on celery.
| Nutrient | Time and type of application | Appication per hectare | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boron (Borax) | 3 and 6 weeks after planting; apply to soil | 15kg | Prevents cracks across stems and distorted stems and leaves |
| Calcium (calcium nitrate) | Twice weekly in summer; foliar sprays in the 3 weeks before harvest | 8g/L sprayed at 1000-1500L/ha | Prevents black heart |
| Magnesium (magnesium sulphate) | Monthly (four applications); apply to soil | 50kg | Prevents yellowing of older leaves
|
Irrigation
Celery is a shallow-rooted crop requiring a lot of moisture. Comprehensive information on the principles of irrigating vegetable crops in WA can be found on the vegetablesWA website. Irrigation rates for your specific location and circumstances can be estimated using the Irrigation calculator.
In warmer months, apply three-fifths of the water early to mid-morning and two-fifths early to mid-afternoon. In cooler months, apply all of the water early to mid-morning.
Water used for irrigation should contain less than 1000mg/kg of total dissolved salts, or have an electrical conductivity (EC) reading of less than 180mS/m.