Celeriac
A unique root vegetable with a knobbly, edible root (or 'corm') and a distinctive celery-like flavour. It's a long-season crop that requires patience and consistent moisture, but rewards with a delicious, versatile harvest.
Celeriac seeds
£2.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
February – April, indoors in modules or trays, on a warm windowsill or propagator
Plant out
May – June, once danger of frost has passed and plants are 10-15cm tall
Harvest
September – November, when corms are roughly cricket-ball size (7-10cm diameter)
Conditions
Sun
Full sun
Water
Absolutely critical: keep consistently moist, never letting the soil dry out, to avoid tough, stringy corms
Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
30-40cm between plants, 45cm between rows
Containers
Can be grown in large, deep containers (at least 30cm depth and width), but needs constant watering
Indoors
Must be started indoors early in the season due to its long growing period
Care and harvest
Feeding
Once planted out, feed every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser
Pruning
Remove outer, older leaves from August onwards to expose the developing corm to light and encourage swelling
Harvesting
Loosen soil with a fork and lift gently. Remove any remaining leaves and fine roots.
Storage
Store in a cool, dark, frost-free place in damp sand or sawdust for several months. Can also be blanched and frozen.
Good companions: Beans, Cabbage, Lettuce