If you are wondering how to grow celeriac, it can be grown from either seed or seedlings. Although slower to establish than many vegetables, it is easy to grow and well worth the effort.
What is celeriac?
Celeriac is related to celery, however it is the bulbous root that is eaten whereas with celery it is the tall green stems.
It is the flavour of the celeriac root that is the attraction. It has a nutty flavour, a little spicy, and little taste of celery. And this makes the best mash you can imagine, either by itself, or with other vegetables.
Cooked it makes a great addition to a number of dishes and recipes including the famous, Celeriac Remoulade. It can also be roasted, used in mash, soups or stews.
Raw it can be used to make a very interesting coleslaw, or it can be used in a a salad with a little olive oil or your favourite dressing. And for using Celeriac raw, you need good fresh bulbs and these are best home grown. So choose a variety and start planting.
Celeriac Growing Requirements
- Botanical Name: Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Plant Type: Biennial vegetable grown as an annual
- Position: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
- Planting Time: Spring after danger of frost
- Time to Harvest: 4–5 months
- Water Needs: Moderate to high
- Uses: Roasting, mashing, soups, stews and salads
How to Grow Celeriac at home
You can grow this wonderful vegetable from seed or from seedlings. The disadvantage of growing from seeds is that this is a slow grower.
The best time to plant celeriac into the garden is in spring. We suggest sowing seeds indoors or in a cold frame in late winter to give them a good start and then transplant to the vegetable garden as things warm up a little.
Climate Requirements
Celeriac grows best in cool to temperate climates where it can mature slowly. In warmer regions it benefits from consistent moisture and some protection from hot afternoon sun during summer.
How to Grow Celeriac from Seeds
Celeriac seeds are very small, so difficult to handle as individual seeds. They are usually started indoors or in a cold frame.
Fresh seed generally germinates more reliably than older seed. Maintaining even moisture throughout the germination period is essential, as the seedlings are slow to establish.
- Plant them in punnets and be prepared to thin them.
- The seeds need to be surface sown as they need light to germinate.
- Seeds can take 4 – 6 weeks to germinate, so be patient.
- Keep them moist by mist spraying.
- Once they reach around 2 – 3 cm in height, pot them up into individual pots.
Planting Celeriac in the Garden
Choose a sunny to part shaded position and a humus rich well dug soil.
- Plant celeriac in a bed by itself.
- Add some leaf mould to assist with moisture retention if possible and some aged cow manure.
- Celeriac requires around 4 – 5 months to grow to mature size.
- Seedlings should be around 8 – 12 cms tall before planting out
- Wait until the danger of frost has past before planting.
- Space seedlings at around 40cm apart, they need the space.
- Water once a week, or 2 – 3 times a week if the soil begins to dry.
- This is a slow plant to develop, it’s not until late summer that the bulb begins to swell.
- Keep the area free from weeds, snails and slugs.
Best fertiliser is a low nitrogen one as you are looking for root production, not foliage growth.
Apply mulch around the plants to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Keep mulch away from the crown of the plant.
When is Celeriac Ready to Harvest?
Celeriac is ready to harvest once the bulb reaches around 8–12 cm across. The bulbs can be harvested as needed through autumn and early winter. A light frost may improve flavour, however prolonged wet conditions can lead to rot.
In autumn/fall dig the bulbs and store them in a cool dry dark position.
You can leave them in the ground until late autumn/ fall but be carful of very wet soils snails and slugs.
Problems
We hear that many home gardeners find that celeriac does not form a bulb.
- If you plant celeriac into cold ground it can decide that it is the second season of its life cycle (its a biennial) and instead of growing the root, it goes straight to setting seed.
- Other gardeners plant the seedlings too deeply, the crown must remain just above ground level, which leads to the next issue of water, planted with crown so high, drying out is a problem. Lack of water is a problem once planted out, this is a vegetable that does not like dry conditions.
- Frosts are a problem, this is not a frost hardy plant.
- Most information on growing celeriac mentions full sun, however much of this is from the UK and not really relevant to warmer climate zones. In hot summers, a little afternoon shade can be desirable to prevent drying out.
- Cracked bulbs can occur if plants are allowed to dry out and are then heavily watered. Consistent soil moisture is important throughout the growing season.
- Sandy soils are also a problem, a rich loamy soil is ideal.
Storing Celeriac
Freshly harvested celeriac can be stored for several weeks in a cool, dark position. In colder climates it can also be stored in boxes of slightly damp sand. Remove foliage before storing.
Celeriac varieties
Remember that different varieties will grow to different sizes :
- Prinz is widely regarded as one of the best home-garden varieties due to its large bulbs and reliable growth.
- Giant Prauge is another good variety as are Monarch and Rowena.
- Monarch has large bulbs and a smoothish skin, easier to peel.
- Bianco del Veneto has smaller bulbs and much less edible flesh than Prinz, however it has finer texture.
Companion Plants
Celeriac grows well alongside brassicas, onions and leeks. Avoid planting it too close to large, vigorous crops that compete heavily for water and nutrients.
How to prepare Celeriac for Cooking
- You need to remove the top and the bottom, so leaves and roots are cut off to reveal the white flesh.
- Then you remove the skin. All of this is best done with a large knife as most vegetable peelers are not up to handling this bumpy character.
- After that you are ready to cut it up to use in your favourite recipe,
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow celeriac in pots?
Yes. Use a large container filled with rich potting mix and keep the soil consistently moist throughout the growing season.
How long does celeriac take to grow?
Most varieties take around 4 – 5 months from transplanting to harvest.
Does celeriac need full sun?
In cool climates, full sun is ideal. In warmer regions, some afternoon shade can help prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.
Can celeriac survive frost?
Light frosts are generally tolerated by established plants, however young seedlings can be damaged by heavy frosts.
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