Planting

From seed flat to the soil: The intricate process of celery planting

Planting celery seedlings isn’t as simple as putting some plants in the ground. There is so much complex machinery and skill involved to make it happen. It all begins in the greenhouse; seedling flats are transported to the field scheduled for planting that day. Farms often use trucks modified with shelves to hold seedling flats securely during transport to the field and to maximize efficiency. Once the flats are taken to the field, they are loaded onto the celery planter.

Most celery planters require about six to seven people to run efficiently, but many planters are fully automated and require almost zero human labor. Four of the workers sit on seats and begin grabbing seedlings from flats placed in front of them (the number of workers varies, depending on what type of planter is being used). Just below where the flats are placed are rotating tables. Each table contains several cups that the employees toss the plants into as the table moves quickly. As the planter moves forward, each cup positions the seedling in a furrow, planting it at the correct depth.

Placing the plants in each cup quickly takes practice and precision. Without proper training or practice, workers may fail to fill each cup with a plant, resulting in noticeable gaps between plants in the soil. To address this, a worker is usually positioned to walk behind the very slow-moving planter, ready to fill gaps manually. They are also there to watch for malfunctions, such as plants not being placed properly or the planter encountering obstacles like pieces of wood. On many planters, an employee is tasked with replenishing the seed flats when they are used up.

In fully automated celery planting systems, robotic arms or conveyors load seedling flats onto the planter, reducing manual labor. GPS guidance ensures straight rows and consistent spacing, optimizing field use. Automated planting mechanisms adjust in real-time to plant at correct depths, minimizing seedling damage. Some systems also include integrated irrigation and fertilization, providing essential water and nutrients at planting. Sensors and cameras monitor seedling placement, making real-time adjustments to depth, spacing, and speed while alerting operators to issues like jams or low seedling counts. Planting is a rigorous process that depends on a hardworking team and specialized technical equipment.