Celeriac

[Luci]

Hi,

Just wondered when is the right time to dig up celeriac?
I've got a couple of rows growing in my allotment and was curious as to when the best time was.

Luce

[Two_Sheds]

when it's big enough to eat. No "best" time, really

[Nicos]

If you leave them too long they can start to go hollow in the middle. Mine have been fine- just not very big this year. Try one now if you like.

[sarraceniac]

Use the roots as you want during Late October and through November (bit late for telling you that now ain't it? ). Leave them as long as possible. there is no advantage in eating them young. Any time from now to mid-December lift them and store in the usual cool dry conditions in sand or peat otherwise what Nicos says will happen, will.

[Lovage]

I left my celeriac in the ground last year ( covered with a fleece in bad weather ) and used them from Oct to April. They kept fine without any problem and helped even out supply of veg

[BarleySugar]

I did the same, left mine in all winter, no protection even, and it got pretty cold here. They were fine, I used the last of mine about April too, along with mooli and mayo they made a lovely grated salad through the winter.

[Alice]

Use your celeriac when you want to Luci.
I leave mine in the ground and just lift one when I want to. No problems and I'm in Perthshire.

[Luci]

Thanks for all the replies.
I went down the allotment this afternoon, and dug one up.
There wasn't anything much to write home about , so it went back in the ground.
Will check again them later.

[Two_Sheds]

They won't grow any more now it's winter. Eat them up

[Jillyreeves]

They won't grow any more now it's winter. Eat them up

Oh no mine are tiny, too small to eat, went in very late

Is there no chance they will grow even in this mild weather we are having

Should I just pull them up now and give up?

[Nicos]

If they are too small to eat, then you lose nothing by leaving them in, although the length of day also determins the growth period- not just the warmth.

If you pop a cloche over them- ( firmly fixed in these winds) you may get some top growth which can be used in soups as a celery flavouring.You never know- they may bulk up a tiny bit- mine weren't much bigger than tennis balls, but what there was tasted yummy.

[Jillyreeves]

Thanks for the encouragement Nicos, but mine are more like marbles :-(

I will leave them in a bit longer, like you say nothing to lose, but they are planted where I plan to sight my new greenhouse.