Celeriac tips?

[Sunset]

I've been trying to grow celeriac for the last 4 years as I love the stuff but have been distinctly unsuccessful. Worst so far was last year when all 14 plants ran to seed. Previous years have seen roots the size of golf balls. I've grown "Tanya", "Brilliant" and a Seeds of Italy variety "Bianco del Veneto". Anyone got any tips or do I live too far north to give them a long enough growing season?

Thanks for any ideas.

[Alice]

I don't think you're too far north Sunset. I can grow them in Scotland. But you do have to start them early and keep them well watered. Good luck.

[Sunset]

I started mine in Feb last year and think they were more in danger of being drowned than short of water, the amount of rain we had! I planted out in May - could the ground have been too cold and that caused them to bolt?

[Nicos]

Loads and loads of well rotted manure....and then add more!

And water ...and water..and water.

Had no problems in Cheshire once we started doing them that way!

[BarleySugar]

I planted my seed in the electric propagator at the end of Feb last year, and pricked them out into modules on 22nd March. All of the ones I planted out at the beginning of May went to seed, but we did get a cold snap (no frost though) just after they went out. The remainder that had to stay in the modules until the end of the month (in the greenhouse, then hardened off) until the ground was ready, did much better. None of those bolted. I have pulled one today about 4 inches across, not enormous, but as I'm the only one who eats it, that's fine. The spare ones I passed on to the gardening club after I had planted as many as I could fit in also did well with no bolting.
From my experience this year, I would say plant as early as you can, but bearing in mind I'm in the south, make sure you can keep the plants undercover until the soil has warmed up and cover with fleece if the temperature drops. It does seem as if the colder spell may have caused the first ones I planted out to bolt.

[Snadger]

I grew some a few years ago and they were smashing. I tried them again last year and they were rubbish!

So much so that I'm even having a go at growing proppa celery this year!

Good luck to whoevers trying them this year..........I love celery in soup! Yum

[zazen999]

I've given up on proper celery and am trying celeriac.

I love it in soup and celery is such a pain to keep from going woody.

[Sunset]

So glad to see your experience BarleySugar. I hate it when I can't work out what's happened to a crop but your experience seems to suggest that my concern about the cold soil was probably well founded. Might try planting out in batches this year.

Love soup too!!! Had some celeriac and stilton soup in a hotel last month which was delish. Tried to recreate when I got home, on my 3rd version now and think I've just about got it. Perhaps I should have just googled for a recipe.

[BarleySugar]

It's fun trying to recreate a recipe though. Off topic, but we bought a jar of hot chilli jam 2 years ago when on holiday £4. After a few misses, I have now come up with a recipe that replicates it, or even a slight improvement. I hadn't been able to find one on google that sounded as if it would give the right taste. It's very popular, so I just made another batch, a cheese platter and a jar of jam will be a good pressie for a lot of my friends and relatives.

[vegnut]

I grew celeriac this year with good success. I sowed them in rootrainers on the patio in April, and took them to the allotment when big enough. Sorry cant remember when, but it is certainly after may. And i am now and have been pulling some nice ones for a month. I will deffo be doing the same again next year. I love them chopped and roasted with the spuds and squash.

[Paulottie]

I think you might have set them out too early...they take ages to get big enough and they like it warm at the beginning, I'd plant out in June from an early March sowing.

Otherwise rich land, lots of water and regularly tear off outside leaves from late August.

[Sunset]

I reckon you've got it bob on. I think I'd worked on the principle that I was only getting golf ball sizes because they didn't have long enough to grow so if I planted them earlier they'd grow bigger. Didn't take into account that the cold soil would cause them to bolt. Duh...... Never mind have a new plan for this year. Going to sow some in Feb but keep in greenhouse for longer, probably won't plant out until June when I do my other tender stuff. Going to sow second lot later, probably late March. Fingers crossed!