Quick Answer: Can We Compost Celery?
Yes, we can compost celery stalks, unwanted tops, and bottoms of celery in a regular home compost pile. You may balance them with brown materials. You may also compost celery juice pulp as they are rich in nutrients. The small amounts of cooked celery may be decomposed aerobically in a compost pile. However, avoid throwing those parts dipped in heavy dressings and diseased plants.
This is a complete guide on composting celery.
Apart from my own experience of composting, I have also used excerpts from composting books and other experts to back my answer.
Are you ready to know more?
Contents
Can We Compost Celery?
Yes, we can compost celery stalks. You may also toss unwanted tops and bottoms of celery sticks. However, avoid composting sticks that are coated in heavy salad dressings.
The flavor of salad dressing may attract unwanted pests and rodents to the compost pile. You may wash the dressings and added them to the compost pile.
Also, it is preferable to avoid adding diseased celery parts to the regular home compost. It may survive in the soil and infect other plants.
You may compost cooked celery in small amounts. However, it should not be heavily greased.
Alternatively, you may try regrowing celery especially if they are organic.
How to Compost Celery
The celery is water-heavy and tough but will rot down quickly in a compost pile. You may cut them into small pieces and add them to the regular compost bin.
Materials
- Composting Bin
- Knife
Instructions
- Chop the celery sticks - You may chop the unwanted celery stalk, tops, and bottoms. Add them to the regular home compost bin or pile. It is preferable to add in the center of the pile.
- Add brown materials - As the celery is green, balance them with brown materials, including cardboard or fallen leaves. Moisten the top layer with water.
- Allow them to decompose - Turn the materials with a rake or shovel to improve aeration and distribute moisture. Continue maintaining the pile until it turns into compost.
What Are The Alternatives To Composting Celery?
One of the best alternatives to composting celery is regrowing them from the base. You may also add them while preparing vegetable stock or soups. It adds a nice flavor to the dishes.
Cut the bottom off your celery bunch, place them in a small container filled with water.
The celery may start to sprout in a day or two. Keep changing the water every couple of days. You may plant them in a pot if you want them to grow bigger.
Click on this video to know more about regrowing celery sticks:
Can You Compost Celery Juice Pulp?
Yes, we can compost celery juice pulp. They are fibrous and may break down easily in the compost pile as they have been already processed. They work as a healthy addition to the soil adding vital nutrients.
However, one disadvantage is that they may attract unwanted pests, fruit flies, snails, and rats to the compost pile.
You may mix with lawn clippings, fresh manure, and heavy plant scraps to avoid the pests. Also, add them to the center of the pile to avoid pest interference.
Can You Put Diseased Celery Plants To The Compost Pile?
No, it is preferable to avoid putting disease-infected celery stalks to the compost pile. The internal temperature of the home compost pile doesn’t reach 150 to 180oF to kill the plant disease pathogens.
Celery is susceptible to various fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. Those plants with soil-borne diseases may survive in the soil for many years.
They do not get killed by the decomposition process. So, it is best to avoid these diseased celery materials in the compost pile.
But, celery with powdery mildew may be composted safely in small amounts as they require living hosts to survive.
You may compost them with caution using hot composting techniques.
Can You Compost Cooked Celery?
Yes, we can compost cooked celery-like other vegetables in moderation. However, they may rot quickly causing unpleasant odors that may attract pests.
One tip is to make sure that they are mixed with other materials including straw and paper to balance the nitrogen and carbon ratios. Also, do not throw too many cooked vegetables at once into the pile.
Strain the excess moisture before adding the cooked vegetables. Too much moisture may lead to smelly decomposition and pest attacks.
But do not add cooked foods that are greasy, spicy, and salad dressing.
FAQs
Yes, red wigglers may eat celery stalks and ends. They prefer nutritionally balanced food. Also, they need a moist environment, proper air circulation, and an ideal temperature range between 55-77oF to survive. You may throw them into a worm bin to compost.
Yes, you may add moldy and rotten celery to the compost bin. Mold cells may be taken care of by different types of microbes in the compost pile. Add them to the center of the pile and cover them with brown, dried materials. It heats up and discourages unwanted pests from entering the pile.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this guide has presented you with certain considerations and methods in composting celery with ease.
Also, I am interested in knowing your experiences in composting celery sticks.
Do share them!