Planting Celeriac
Celeriac is a cool season vegetable in the Apiaceae family. Getting the timing right is the difference between a strong stand and a disappointing one, so the windows below are given relative to your own last spring frost and first fall frost rather than a generic calendar date. Look up your local frost dates and count back or forward from there.
Celeriac is started indoors 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost date, giving seedlings a head start before they move outside.
Transplant young plants outdoors 0–2 weeks after your last frost, once the danger of frost has passed.
Celeriac can be grown by starting indoors and transplanting. Starting indoors gives the longest, most controlled season, while direct sowing is simplest where the season is long enough.
Spacing and Planting Depth
Give Celeriac room to mature. The figures below come from verified extension and seed-supplier data for typical varieties.
| Spacing in row | 8 inches |
|---|---|
| Row spacing | 24 inches |
| Plants per sq ft | 0.75 |
| Planting depth | 0.125 inches |
| Sun requirement | Full sun |
Days to Maturity
Celeriac reaches maturity in 100–120 days from transplant.
Celeriac is ready to harvest after about 110 days. Harvest before summer heat or, for fall crops, before a hard freeze, to keep quality high.
Conditions and Care
As a cool-season vegetable, Celeriac does its best growing in the cooler weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. It is half-hardy — it withstands light frost but should be protected from a hard freeze.
Celeriac needs full sun — give it at least six hours of direct light a day for the best growth and flavor. Sow seed about 0.125 inches deep — small seed is sown shallow and barely covered, then keep the soil evenly moist until seedlings establish.
Celeriac belongs to the Apiaceae family; rotating where you grow members of this family each year helps limit the build-up of soil-borne pests and disease. Celeriac is generally grown as a single planting each season rather than succession sown.
Companion Plants
Pairing Celeriac with the right neighbors can improve growth and deter pests; a few combinations are best avoided.