Growing Celeriac

[LOTTYPOTTY]

Can anyone give me any advice on growing celeriac from seed? I germinated a packet a few weeks ago and they sprouted well but were very spindly and never formed true leaves. I have decided to ditch these and start again but was looking for a tried and tested method of germination that would result in better seedlings.

[Two_Sheds]

They need a bit of heat to germinate (I do mine in Feb in heated prop), but can then go to cooler conditions to grow on.

They take a long time, and need a lot of water

[LOTTYPOTTY]

Thanks for your reply. What kind of container to you grow them in? I did mine in loo rolls that grew mould on the outside of them. Is there anything that's more suitable to use?

[VirginVegGrower]

They take ages and I start mine in late Feb/early March. Put them in my living room windowsill, which always has heat. Transfer to greenhouse as soon as inch high. Keep watered as they swell with the water. Mine took forever - don't be tempted to throw as they are not like growing mustard cress. Long and slow with celeriac!
When you transplant - lots of rotted muck.

[VirginVegGrower]

Thanks for your reply. What kind of container to you grow them in? I did mine in loo rolls that grew mould on the outside of them. Is there anything that's more suitable to use?

Multi cell trays always.

[LOTTYPOTTY]

Would it do more harm than good to try to transplant them to another form of container at this point in their lives and do I have to acclimatise them to my greenhouse as at the moment they are in my heated conservatory that gets fairly warm?

[VirginVegGrower]

I would try potting on into medium sized multi cell trays. They only need the heat to germinate. Mine are going into the greenhouse soon as a root they will be fine in there. Try and stagger the shock though from heat to cool room to greenhouse. I never use toilet rolls for this reason although I understand they are good for short term things. Multicelks can be washed time and again, so earn their keep.

[LOTTYPOTTY]

Thanks for your quick replies. I feel cheered up now at the thought that it's worth keeping going with them as I love celeriac and want to make lots of lovely soup and salads later on in the year.

[VirginVegGrower]

Celeriac soup with Stilton is a corker. I love opening the seed packet and smelling the celery aroma. The thing to remember is once you get them in enriched ground they need water to swell their roots. They store well in hessian sacks too. Ours went through winter and still have a few left.

[taff]

they do give you a bit of a heart attack when they first come through, because they don't look like they're doing anything for ages. Don't worry, leave them be, and they'll put a spurt on every now and again.

[VirginVegGrower]

they do give you a bit of a heart attack when they first come through, because they don't look like they're doing anything for ages. Don't worry, leave them be, and they'll put a spurt on every now and again.

Absolutely - your post made me laugh Taff!

[perkin]

I sowed half of mine into modules and then chitted more seeds and put those in modules after a day or three soaking. To be honest, there's been no real difference in germination rates between the two methods - about 60%.
Yes, they do take ages to do anything and they look so teeny tiny for a very long time.
I managed to grow only small roots last year so will be doing more watering once they're in the ground this year.

[VirginVegGrower]

I sowed half of mine into modules and then chitted more seeds and put those in modules after a day or three soaking. To be honest, there's been no real difference in germination rates between the two methods - about 60%.
Yes, they do take ages to do anything and they look so teeny tiny for a very long time.
I managed to grow only small roots last year so will be doing more watering once they're in the ground this year.

Lessons learned and we've all been there with celeriac

[Kristen]

Anyone got any idea why are they so slow? Lobellia too, and Lambs Lettuce. Nightmare!

[VirginVegGrower]

Anyone got any idea why are they so slow? Lobellia too, and Lambs Lettuce. Nightmare!

Because they want to be - so is celery though I find. Always an awkward vegetable to try the patience of the gardener. I have found muck and water helps so maybe they are the little boys of the allotment world.