Celeriac

The ancestor of both celery and celeriac grew in marshy areas, and the closer soil is to a rich and moist environment, the happier celeriac will be. A generous amount of compost or rotted manure worked deeply into the soil before planting helps retain moisture and add nutrients. When the plants are 3 to 4 inches tall, mulch to conserve the soil moisture .

During the growing season, monitor the soil regularly to make sure it’s moist, and check for any lateral leaf shoots. Snap these off to get a smooth crown. In late summer, remove some of the outer leaves to make the root grow larger and smoother, then cover it with soil or mulch to keep it blanched and tender.

Celeriac seed germinates best at 70˚F (21 C). Barely cover and keep moist. Can take up to a month, so be patient.

Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

Harden off when days and nights are above 45˚F (7 C). If seedlings experience 10 consecutive days or more of cold temperatures, they receive the message that they have gone through a summer (during germination) and are now in a winter. When the temperature heats up, the celeriac plants think they are in their second year of growth and will put their energy into flowering instead of into developing a good root.

After hardening off for at least a week, transplant seedlings to the garden, giving each plant a dose of liquid fish emulsion. Since celeriac likes a rich diet, repeat this dose every two weeks throughout the summer. Protect from any lingering frosts.

Celeriac can be harvested and eaten before it attains its maximum size, but the flavor is improved by a touch of frost, which converts some of its starch to sugar.

When first dug, celeriac has a rude, primitive appearance. Shake off as much dirt as possible, roughly whack off the rootlets with a field knife, and remove all but 1 inch of foliage. After cleaning the root further with a stiff jet of water from the hose, allow the excess water to dry, then put the celeriac in a perforated, food-grade plastic bag. The ideal storage temperature for celeriac is between 35˚ and 40˚F, with high humidity, so a refrigerator crisper also works well for long-term storage. Under these conditions, this vegetable will remain in good condition until late spring.

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Celeriac so consider planting:

These plants will not grow well with Celeriac so avoid planting these within close proximity:

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Celeriac plants:

Monarch, Celery root, Turnip-rooted celery, Knob celery

These estimates for how long Celeriac takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!