Celeriac

Celeriac is closely related to celery.

While people eat celery stems, they eat the root of the celeriac plant.

The edible celeriac root looks like a turnip. Therefore, celeriac is sometimes also called turnip-rooted celery or celery root.

Celeriac must be grown on soil that is well-watered and well-manured.

Sow seeds in the middle of May. You may sow them in frames or in glasshouses, as with celery.

You should plant out your celeriac seedlings after the beginning of June.

Be sure to trim the plants before planting, removing all of the side shoots.

When growing celeriac by itself, place the plants about 1 foot apart.

You can plant a catch crop, such as endive, in between the celeriac. If you do this, place the celeriac plants 18 inches apart from each other, with the catch crop in between them.

Place the celeriac at a shallow depth in the soil and order it in well.

Water your celeriac frequently in the summer and hoe the ground often.

Remove old leaves and side shoots a couple of times as your celery crop grows.

Unlike celery, celeriac does not need to be blanched, and the soil around celeriac plants does not need to be earthed up.

In the middle of September, some roots will be large enough to use. By October, you should be able to lift the whole crop.