How to grow….Celeriac by John Oldham
Celeriac is a much under-grown and under-used vegetable.

• Having a mild celery flavour, it can be used raw grated in salads, in a remoulade, or steamed (or boiled) and mashed with butter, salt and pepper as a superior vegetable. Goes well with Swede and Sprouts.

• On heavy soils Celeriac is far less prone to slug damage than Celery, once established outdoors. However it is well worth using anti-slug treatment as a precaution.

• For best results, i.e. biggest most tender roots, a long growing season is needed. I prefer to sow under cool or cold glass, in modules or small pots, in mid- February, two to a pot. Seed is small and difficult to handle individually. Germination is a bit erratic, be patient.

• Thin out to one plant per module/pot.

• Grow on as quickly as possible, watering well in warm conditions: don’t allow to dry out.

• It may be worth potting up one size to keep them growing well.

• Plant out in well-prepared soil from end May to mid June.

• The roots will be ready to harvest from end October and will continue to put on weight into December.

• The crop may be better lifted before extreme weather in January. The roots store well in a dry frost-free shed.