Growing Celeriac for Winter from Seed

Cultivating a coconut-sized celeriac, Apium graveolens, from the smallest of seeds sown in late winter months or early springtime is within the reach of most gardener-cooks with access to moisture-retentive soil which can catch the rays of summer sun.

Buying Brilliant and Monarch Varieties of Celeriac to Grow

Brilliant is a variety of celeriac which has a rough exterior skin and is a good keeper for storing over winter after harvesting. Monarch is an interesting variety which offers a very smooth outer skin to the autumn/ early winter vegetable celeriac. A less rough skin will ease washing and peeling of the celeriac vegetable. Monarch is claimed to be tasty cooked and grated raw.

Growers are encouraged to compare the prices of vegetables seed from as many vegetable seed catalogues as possible. Indicator prices for UK gardeners can be found in the Thompson and Morgan and Sutton Seeds vegetable seed catalogues for 2009 offer the Monarch variety of celeriac to grow for under 1p per seed (£1.55 to £1.99 per packet of 200 seeds at the date of publication).

Sowing Celeriac Seeds and Planting Young Celeriac Plants

Sowing the celeriac seeds should be done as early as possible to maximise the growing period of the celeriac vegetable. Soil temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius underpins successful celeriac seed germination. If a propagator is available, celeriac seeds can be ordered now ready for sowing in early February. Seed packets will offer gardeners bespoke advice about compost preparations for the variety of celeriac.

Within 8 weeks the germinated celeriac seeds will have grown into seedlings that can be planted on into root trainers or biodegradable pots filled with nutrient enhanced compost to feed the young seedlings into robust young plants. Measures against slugs and snails feasting on the celeriac seedlings will be needed.

By May to June, the young plants should be hardened off in their small pots before planting into the soil at the chosen celeriac site once some hours of early summer sun arrive. With a space allowance of 12 inches by 18 inches, individual celeriac plants can be set as a companion plant to fill gaps within a kitchen garden layout.

Growing and Harvesting Celeriac

Celeriac growers will find the vegetable to be relatively low maintenance in summer with weekly watering required only. In the later months of summer and early autumn, plant care of the celeriac will focus on ensuring that the root is covered with soil to ensure its creamy colour otherwise patches will turn green like exposed potato tubers do.

Celeriac can be harvested early autumn for smaller sizes of 500g to 700g and throughout winter for 1kg and above. All celeriac should be lifted and stored minus the foliage if the available site for growing celeriac becomes waterlogged and at risk of freezing. In a well draining location celeriac can be harvested through the winter.