Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on September 02, 2005, 22:59:11
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On my plot visit this evening I noticed that my celeriac (Alabaster) has now started to bulb up at the base, and I reakon I will be able to start using them in a few weeks as the summer crops come to an end! I leave mine in all winter and they come to no harm, so have some yummy roots to use!
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Glad you mentioned celeriac EJ, noticed mine is also starting to bulb up and wasn't sure when it's ready to start using. Judging by what's sticking out the top of the soil, they're probably about tennis ball size at the moment. Are they better used smaller or does it not make a difference? :)
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I grew celeriac last season, over wintered it like EJ, was fine. Was also told by person who gave me plants, to remove old, lower leaves as new ones emerged from the centre. Not sure why! But didn't do any harm!! Whether it helped or not, not sure! Lottie
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i think that is just to keep the area around the plants tidy, lottie - to discourage pests like snails hiding there.
i remove a lot of dead foliage from around cabbages and that as well - because that is where the buggers are usually hiding out!
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Sounds right Svea! Think I'm lucky, have toads on site, seem to deal with slugs, founf one in greenhouse too, only ickle one but from small acorns, big toads grow! Not done celeriac this year, wish I had now and not bothered with purple cabbage!! Lottie ::)
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I have planted celeriac again, having really enjoyed it last year. Like others, I just leave it in the ground until it is required. I have not noticed any slug interference before, so presumed slugs not interested. Not checked on its current status, mainly because it is masked by the weeds !
Also I have too many other crops to worry about harvesting . . .
Derekthefox :D
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Jessevieve, I start using them as I need them, so from golf ball onwards. This spring, when I was down to the last few, they did start to go a little fibrous inside, but careful preperation was all that was needed! Tennis ball is a great size, and they are fab in soups and stews, such a subtle flavour and great texture! A real hit!
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I only had room for 8 plants in my mini veggie plot, but they are growing really well. I use the leaves to add flavour to stocks, sauces and stews.
I learned about celeriac when I lived in Germany where they also make a beautiful salad with cooked diced celeriac and raw apple. And celeriac mashed with potatoes and carrots...........yum!
Tricia
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Luckily, for the first time ever, we have 2 good rows**. So I'm right with Emma on using them as soon as you would like them.
As to storage, if you're worried about leaving them in the ground - if you have any - why not freeze?
** But not all the interplanting worked - too crowded. Looked fine at the seedling stage.
This is now - & earlier.
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I learned about celeriac when I lived in Germany where they also make a beautiful salad with cooked diced celeriac and raw apple.
also grated fine and used raw in a salad on its own .
add vinaigrette quickly to prevent discolouring. in germany we can´t leave celeriac
in the open during winter. it usually gets too cold. i put mine in a clamp together with potatoes and carrots.
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Dug one of my celeriac last week to see how big they were.
They had not started to bulb up - perhaps because I'm on the
north east ( chillier ) coast??
Debs
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Hi all, :D,
There was lots of discussion earlier in the year here about celariacs, so how have they done ???
Here is a pic of the first one I pulled yesterday, it weighed about 800gms after trimming, & tasted great ;D good news is I`ve got another 16 just like this one 8)
The variety is called brilliant , seeds from Dobies.
Adrian.
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Well I live in Coventry Debs, in the Midlands, and mine are no bigger than small tomatoes. I hope they get their act together soon !
Derekthefox :D
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Brilliant, Adrian!
Nothing that a good swivel peeler can't tackle, wardy?
But yes, messy sink!
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Adrianhumph,
WOW :o
They look fab.
What type are they?
Hope mine get a growth spurt ;D
Debs
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So they are brilliant eh ;)
Shall be getting myself to Dobies to buy some...
Debs 8)
(If I took the shades off I might have seen the name!!!)
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Disappointing after a very hopeful start.
The squares are 20mm. (I'll do focus one day!!)
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mine's bigger than yours, tim :P
(never thought i'd say this to a bloke)
i am finding, with my own potatoes now having run out, that you can use celeriac, swede and even parsnips as excellent pot substitutes. not for everything, but for most uses. especially for the carb part of a meal - who needs more than one rot veg? :)
svea (learning alternative cooking/eating habits)
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And all mashed coarsly together, as we had today. With a leek & parsley. Lovely veg stock left over for soup!
And, as from today - NO added salt! For every gram of salt I have to eat a banana to balance it!!
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I always pop a little Celeriac foliage into soups and stews....adds a gentle Celery tatse. Also chop leaves finely and together with chopped Parsley, add to mashed taters....Yum Yum
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Wow, I never thought of using the foliage as a green garnish ...
Thanks dingerbell
Derekthefox :D
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I always pop a little Celeriac foliage into soups and stews....adds a gentle Celery tatse. Also chop leaves finely and together with chopped Parsley, add to mashed taters....Yum Yum
i grow lovage for that - much more intense flavour.
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want some seeds? it's a perennial, so i have had my share :)
PM me your address, and i can pop some in the post.
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Only had Celeriac for the first time this year (thanks to my Scottish counsin!) but now love the stuff. Buy it whenever I see it at the local(ish - about 20 mins on the tube away!) green grocers!
Am going to feed the slugs with it next year... I mean, attempt to grow it!
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actually, the only trouble i had with celeriac et al was the celery leaf miner. affected celery, celeriac and the lovage too - only didnt bother with parsley (i bet the leaves were too small to mine properly ;D)
any organic methods of controlling that? other than regularly picking off affected leaves and binning them - which i forgot to do in the latter stages.....
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hooray - that is good news. (Although it does mean that if they don't grow I will have only my own incompetence to blame!)
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We got a bit excited by all the talk of celariac so I let the OH dig one up yesterday. I think they need a bit longer. Shame, but I will use it anyway.
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Asked the Farmers' Market how they got theirs so big. "Sow in January under cover & put out when about ? 4" high".
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Thanks Tim, mine only normally end up small apple size after peeling, but they are always appreciated as they are so tasty. This year though, they seem to be very small. Perhaps the bit of ground they ended up on was just not up to much.
Derekthefox :D
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i sowed indoors in feb and planted out in late april/early may? they are good size - not as huge as in the shops but bigger than tim's.
i earthed them up too as they grew and poked their heads through - not sure that helped with anything other than weed control....?
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Hi all, :D
Look at my picture that was posted on page 1, I followed the first class instructions in Sue Stricklands article in January`s Kitchen garden magazine . Basically you must sow early, by mid March, they must be kept frost free, & not put out until the end of May. They need fertile soil enriched with manure or compost & they need LOTS of water through the season. I also grew mine under enviromesh to prevent carrot fly infestation. I have no greenhouse facilities, so it was a bit of a pain putting the plants out on good days & bringing them back in at night throughout April & May, so next year i have ordered from Dobies 20 plants already grown on & ready to plant out, (delivery during May).
Adrian.
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i didnt water mine hardly at all (as i am far to too lazy)
i have heavy clay soil though which retains moisture quite well even when it's hot and dry - so they did just fine :)
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Thanks for that guidance Adrian, as usual, I hope to have a bumper crop next year (aren't we all the same here - 'next' year will be better ! ).
Derekthefox :D
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Mine are still quite small, but usable (and very tasty) I intend to get them in earlier next year. We have no water at our plot which is a bit of a problem. :(
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Mine are lucky to be the size of golf balls when peeled :( Don't think I sowed mine until april or possibly even May, so I will have to try earlier next year.
Slugs left mine alone too :)
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Asked the Farmers' Market how they got theirs so big. "Sow in January under cover & put out when about ? 4" high".
Thanks for this Tim. Noted. I definitely want more of this beautiful (tasting) vegetable in 2006.
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I reckon I might try some sown in January 2006 then, I have a light box at work, which should work ...
Derekthefox :D
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Asked the Farmers' Market how they got theirs so big. "Sow in January under cover & put out when about ? 4" high".
Yes, thanks Tim :-*
I too wondered why mine were so wee...
Early sowing for me next year too - or should that be in 6-8 weeks ;)
Debs
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Asked the Farmers' Market how they got theirs so big. "Sow in January under cover & put out when about ? 4" high".
Will the frost affect celeriac if put out too soon?
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Hi mothy,
Oh yes it will, they are tender like beans & courgettes, DO NOT plant out until all risk of frost has passed.
Adrian.
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they are certainly tender as baby plants - the adults right now are quite hardy - though i have covered them with bracken now... - i only harvest when i need them.
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I reckon I have about 50 in theory, but I have not harvested any yes, as they seem so tiny ...
Derekthefox :D
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So what happened - or didn't?? Plus some advuce.
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Mine seem to be like that this year too Tim, no bulk to the roots at all ...
Derekthefox :D
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For the first year ever, I managed to get usable roots of Celeriac, but I sowed the seed early under cover, and then transplanted them, and that seems to have made the difference this year.
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I have just inspected my celeriac after the recent frosts, and the foliage is not affected. They must be much tougher than I thought. By comparison, my celery, even though it was protected by fleece, was completely wrecked by the frost.
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Celery - self-blanching? If so, then yes!