Buy 5 or more items and receive a 25% discount use coupon code: 25PERCENTOFF 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. Sow into flats or modules containing a good quality well drained soil. John Innes seed mix or similar. Surface sow, do not cover as they need light to germinate. Water from the base of the container, never directly on top of the seeds. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 15*C (59*F). The seedlings should be transplanted when they have their first set of true leaves and are still small. Cultivation: Leaf celery is not frost tolerant so only plant outdoors once all risk of frosts has passed. Full sun or partial shade suit them equally well, and although they are fairly tolerant of drought, don't plant them in very dry places and water when dry. Harvesting: Leaf celery takes a little while to germinate and grows somewhat slowly, but once you get it going you can keep cutting from the same small patch all season. A couple square feet is plenty for a small family. Storage: For use over winter months place cut pieces in an ice cube tray and freeze. It may also be dried by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated area. Companion Plants: The growing plant is an insect repellent, it repels the cabbage white butterfly so is a good companion for all brassicas. A good companion for leeks, onions, tomatoes, French beans and brassicas