Help with celeriac, Please.

[selfsufficient]

Hi all,

I grew some celeriac monarch from seed for the first time last february, but the crowns didn't swell. I have left them in the ground and have noticed today that two of them now have decent sized roots/crowns. Can I leave these celeriac in the ground for a few more months to see if the rest plump out, or do they need to be lifted before the weather warms up. Any advice would be appreciated. Does any one know why they didn't produce crowns in sept as I expected.
Many Thanks in advance for any help.

[Scarlet]

Celeriac need plenty of water to swell, I never have much luck! Last summer was particularly dry and if you don't water your plot (like me) regardless of mulching I find that they don't grow much bigger than golf balls. Celeriac is a biennial plant and will be getting ready for setting seed this year, probably best for the compost heap rather than on your plate now.

[WendyC]

Peeling away the lower leaves, just leaving a topnot of leaves, also helps them to swell.

[mothhawk]

I've copied this from a similar thread from last year:-

"Don't remind it that it's a vegetable, remind it that it's a bog plant.

Also, I found this snippet in goggle-land:-

"The most likely reason that gardeners are having tiny or non-existent bulbs, according to Robin, is the lifting time. In experiments it has been shown that celeriac roots will literally double in weight between September 15 and November 1. So you must be patient and wait for the final push, lifting them in that narrow window between maturity and the first hard frost, usually in December."

Robin Buck is a professional celeriac grower with 36 acres of celeriac."

[Nicos]

As the others say- it's a bog plant, needing LOADS of water - and feed.
And peeling away of those outer leaves!

I'd say yours are probably getting woody/hollow by now.
I suggest you lift one and see if it is still edible.

[rustylady]

I lifted nearly the last of mine today. Dear little things No point leaving them in any longer because they will start producing more leaves and flowers when it warms up.

[iGrow]

Hmm... Thanks, that is another job I need to do at the allotment.