Celeriac is a cool-season biennial grown as an annual. It is the same in expansion habit and must haves as celery. Celeriac is easiest relating to harvest in cool local weather. It is best started indoors and later transplanted into the garden. Sow seed indoors as early as 10 weeks faster than the average remaining frost date in spring. Celeriac requires 90 to 120 days to reach harvest.
Description. Celeriac is grown for its large, swollen root that looks something like a turnip. The foundation develops at soil level similar to a turnip alternatively celeriac is a member of the celery family and has a an identical expansion habit. From the root, a rosette of dark green leaves sprout atop hollow stems. Celeriac is steadily known as celery root.
Yield. Expand 2 to a few celeriac plants in line with circle of relatives member.
Planting Celeriac
Web page. Celeriac grows easiest in whole sun alternatively will tolerate mild shade. Plant celeriac in moisture-retentive alternatively well-drained soil rich in herbal topic. Add aged compost to planting beds faster than plants and yet again at midseason. Celeriac is a heavy feeder; give plants a facet dressing of compost tea every 2 to a few weeks all through the emerging season.
Planting time. Celeriac grows easiest in cool local weather, in particular where nights are cool. Expand celeriac in spring in cold-winter spaces; in warm-winter spaces increase celeriac beginning in past due summer season so that it matures in cool local weather. Celeriac is slow to germinate and is easiest grown from transplants. Sow seed indoors as early as 10 weeks faster than the average remaining frost date in spring. Plants can transfer into the garden on the average date of the remaining frost. Celeriac requires up to 120 days to reach harvest. A past due summer season crop may also be sown right away throughout the garden where there may be enough time for a second harvest.
Planting and spacing. Sow celeriac seed ⅛ inch deep. Place a seed material or burlap over the seeding area to stick the soil rainy until plants sprout. When plants are 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10cm) tall thin them from 6 to 8 inches (15-20cm) apart or transplant them into the garden at that distance. Space rows 24 to 30 inches (61-76cm) apart. Celeriac is without end set into the garden in 3- to 4-inch (7.6-10cm) deep trenches, similar to celery. Since the plants increase, soil may also be mounded around the exposed root.
Higher part plants. Lettuce, spinach, English peas. Do not plant celeriac with pumpkins, cucumbers, or squash.
Container emerging. Celeriac may also be grown in a container, alternatively now not successfully. Choose an 8-inch (20cm) container for a single plant.
Taking good care of Celeriac
Water and feeding. Celeriac is shallow-rooted and requires commonplace watering. Lack of soil moisture will reason celeriac to prevent emerging. Keep the easiest few inches of soil rainy all the time.
Care. Keep celeriac planting beds weed-free to avoid competition for water and nutrients. Cultivate reasonably to avoid celeriac’s shallow roots. As the root develops, snip off the side roots and hill up the soil over the swollen bulbous root to blanch it. The outdoor of the root will blanch white alternatively the flesh will keep a brownish color.
Pests. Celeriac has no essential pest problems.
Illnesses. Celeriac has no essential sickness problems.
Harvesting and Storing Celeriac
Harvest. Harvest celeriac when the swollen root is 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10cm) all through or fairly upper. Scale back stems relating to the knobby root; use a garden fork to boost the roots. Celeriac will increase with style following a gentle frost alternatively should be harvested faster than the main onerous freeze. Leaves can be used to style soups and stews. From seed, celeriac will reach harvest in 110 to 120 days.
Storing and protective. Celeriac will keep throughout the refrigerator up to one week, or store the root in a cold, rainy place for 2 to a few months. Celeriac will keep throughout the ground where the soil does now not freeze. Leaves can be used as an herb in soups and stews.
Celeriac Sorts to Expand
Sorts. ‘Alabaster’ (120 days); ‘Giant Prague’ (120 days).
No longer ordinary establish. Celeriac, turnip-rooted celery, celery root, knob celery
Botanical establish. Apium graveolens rapaceum
Basis. Europe and Africa
Expand 80 vegetables: THE KITCHEN GARDEN GROWERS’ GUIDE