Have you grown / tasted celeriac?

[WPG]

The latest GYO mag has a whole pile of freebies (just when I thought my seed habit was under control....). One of these is celeriac seeds, which is something I've never tasted before, never mind grown.

So, two questions really. Is it easy/hard to grow, and what does it taste like? From the picture on the packet, it looks a bit turnip-y, in which case I may not bother.

All advice much appreciated!

[rustylady]

I grew some last year. Didn't get off to the best start and weren't planted out on the allotment till late, but they did grow and produced bulbs about the size of a cricket ball.

As the name suggests, they have a celery flavour and I will definitely be using my new seeds from the magazine this year.

[WPG]

Thanks rustylady. I'll give them a go, maybe just a dozen or so.

[Kristen]

We have grown them for years, like them, and tend to cook them mashed with potatoes.

If you have space available then perhaps worth a try (might turn out to be a flavour you really like ), but they are a long season crop - I started mine during the week - I start them off in pots and transplant out to maximise the growing season - so you might think that a lot of faff?

Might still be some in the supermarket if you want to try cooking one before growing a whole wheelbarrow load of them and then perhaps finding you don't like them?

[bretty666]

I havent grown them but they taste nice. over here in france they make celeri roumalade (sp?) which is just grated celariac with a bit of mayo and pepper . truly refreshin especially if mixed with grated carrots too. oh. almost forgot,its all raw by the way si no cooking. its sort if the french equivalent to coleslaw?.

[Nicos]

We grow them every year.
They need well manured and well watered soil to do well.
They will last into the winter too.

I love them mashed in with spuds !

[Chippy Minton]

My experience (and reading) says it's a tricky one. This is the year for me, 2 years of failure, year 1, foliage but nothing to eat root wise, sown too late..... year 2, sown earlier, nice foliage, root starting to swell....... Badger ate them This year, sowing today, indoors (may be a bit late), badger defences being constructed in the next few weeks

[PyreneesPlot]

Love eating it - remoulade, mash, soup, gratin, chips...

But have never managed to get it to grow as I guess we are just too hot and dry (in theory) in the summer - I recall it may be a marsh plant originally?

[Kristen]

nothing to eat root wise, sown too late.

Definitely cannot get around that - need to sow them on time, or leave it until next year. Last year I lost all my seedlings (went away for long weekend, they didn't get watered), I sowed a replacement batch, the plants looked fine, but the roots never swelled.

Badger ate them

Celeriac flavour'd badger? I've not tried that one

This year, sowing today, indoors (may be a bit late)

I think first half of March is spot-on timing so, fingers crossed, you'll get a good crop this year.

[RaptorUK]

So, two questions really. Is it easy/hard to grow, and what does it taste like? From the picture on the packet, it looks a bit turnip-y, in which case I may not bother.

All advice much appreciated!

I'm not a fan of it, but I have eaten it roasted, was nice, chopped finely and boiled in milk then blitzed to a purée, also nice . . . if you like Radish, Celery, Horseradish, etc you will probably like it.

[catgirl]

This is my first year of growing it so I have no idea what I'm doing (they're only seedlings at the moment), but I have been eating celeriac for years. I've had real trouble getting hold of it in UK supermarkets even though it's a common vegetable in most of Europe, so I'm growing it myself this year! I use celeriac in soups (especially pea soup) but have also eaten it sliced 1cm thick and fried in a little bit of oil as an alternative to potatoes. It's a really filling winter vegetable and I love it!

[Kristen]

I've grown Monarch (Suttons) for years, simply because local garden centre sell seed of that, but this year I am also growing Giant Prague (Moles Seeds).

Monarch have never grow particularly big for me, Giant Prague supposedly grows bigger ... time will tell

[robmarston]

Never grown it but tried it for the first time this year. I was a bit hesitant because many people say it tastes like celery and I hate celery. I was very pleased to find I really liked it and it didn't taste like celery to me. I'd say it's a bit parsnip-y in taste, at least that's what it put me in mind of.


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[Dorothy rouse]

Lovely flavour, mashed, puréed , in soup, I have grown it, v small, but will attempt again this year in different place, worth giving it a go.

[Glutton4...]

I haven't grown it, but I have eaten it, and Have to say I really don't like it. I will grow it next time I have a veg garden, as Hubby likes it.


The above statement is my own opinion, and not necessarily that of 'The Management'