Celeriac

[willsy]

Wondered if anyone would know if it is worth keeping my Celeriac in the ground. will it keep on growing? or should I clear the ground now.? Thanks.

[willsy]

[galina]

Wondered if anyone would know if it is worth keeping my Celeriac in the ground. will it keep on growing? or should I clear the ground now.? Thanks.

Celeriac will tolerate a little bit of frost, but not much.  I got glassy looking, frosted, areas on my roots before I knew what was happening a while back.  Haven't grown it for a few years, but next time I will cover them well and harvest the lot and stick in the freezer if it gets really cold.

For it to keep growing temperatures would need to be above 7C and you would need decent light and that is not very likely now.  Best you can hope for is keeping it in the ground and harvesting as you go over winter.  If you keep it going into next year, it will try and flower as soon as the weather warms up and that makes the root unusable.

[Ian Pearson]

I had trouble with rabbits or rats eating mine last winter. It only started towards the end of winter, then they seemed to get a taste for them. Lifting and storing in sand in a cold shed works fine. You can replant the best ones in spring for seed if you want.

[cornykev]

I pulled my first one on Sunday, always likes a bit of frost, mine will be coming out the ground regulary for the next few weeks.

[willsy]

Thanks Guys, thing is they are not that big to harvest, but got loads of celery type leaves on. Me thinks I will cover and just pick what I need when. Taa.

[galina]

Thanks Guys, thing is they are not that big to harvest, but got loads of celery type leaves on. Me thinks I will cover and just pick what I need when. Taa.

Use the leaves too, they go well in soups.  Celery and celeriac are related to parsley and the leaves and stems are good for cooking with.  Also finely chopped in omelette etc.  Even if the roots are small, it isn't a write-off.

[squeezyjohn]

The rabbits/deer have eaten all my leaves 

The roots of mine aren't all that big either ... and I don't think they will grow any bigger now.

[theothermarg]

never thought of using the leaves .  I only put in a few this year when I tried last year they came to nothing then I noticed they were big on another well manured plot so I put in extra and it paid off. composted the leaves on the ones I'v used but still have a few in the ground
marg

[ed dibbles]

I find they grow bigger on richer soil and you need to remove the outside leaves during the growing season as they fall horizontal to increase the size of the exposed bulb