For the past couple of years I have cheated and bought celeriac plants in. This year I am trying to grow from seed. Following instructions on the packet I sowed my celeriac a couple of weeks and placed in my propagator. I have had about 8 seedlings from 48 modules sown. Is this normal? Is there a better way to sow and grow.
I think I may be going back to buying plants if my success rate doesn't improve!
Thanks for any help. ???
I had almost 100% success sowing in cells in unheated GH last year but didn't start them until much later in the year.
Thanks Barnowl. I don't have a GH but I guess a cold frame would do? And perhaps resow at the end of March.....or should it be later.
I think my problem is that I rely on the seed packets and "what to do this month" features in Gardening mags, as at my current site there is only my plot and one other! I have just taken on a second allotment on another site where there are 10 other very expereinced plot holders, and hope to make much more use of this site now I have my own computer!
I have had about 8 seedlings from 48 modules sown.
And I would wager they look skinny?
A cold frame in early April would be soon enough
Oh eck, I have these to do to, I cheated and bought plants as well,don't fel very confident now XX Jeannine
My daughter 'helped' me to sow our Celeriac last year - handful of seed into a 3" pot :o
I think every last seed grew as we got a forest of seedlings.
Amazingly they all grew really well and we ended up with about 80 celeriacs.
So there you go - beg, borrow or steal a child to sow all your seeds and you will have a bumper crop :D
We're a few degrees warmer in London so that might make a difference, or I just got lucky. Apparently Celeriac is an erratic germinator.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/vegtalk_growing.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/vegtalk_growing.shtml)
ours germinated really well, last year, end of march though, best crop we've ever had ;D
I've sown some in a pot and put in a propagator and got nearly 100%!
Not bad considering they were part of the 25p/packet Wyevale bargin!
barkingdog
I've sown about 10 in heated propogator & they all germinated, now doing nicely in the greenhouse.
Well thank you I think that is what I will do then XX Jeannine
I sowed a good pinch in a heated propagator on 9 January and now have 54 (no only 49 - something ate the rest >:() strong seedlings in modules in GH, which is kept at about 9C at night. I did the same last year with the same results. We are still eating celeriac in various forms from last year's crop.
Tricia
i love celeriac and can manage to germinate the seedlings no problem,
but cannot get the plant to produce a bulb - only plenty of lush leaves >:(
Don't know if I should bother at all this year :-\
Thanks for the help - I'll sow in the cold frame in early April (borrowing my godchild for the day) and fingers crossed everything should be okay.
But just to be on the safe side I think I buy a few plants as well as I do love celeriac. :)
Hi suzanne,
I would not advocate sowing in a cold frame in April, celariac are very susceptable to the cold, they need sowing indoors in the warm quite early, & they need to kept warm throughout April & May , then planted out at the same time you would plant beans or squashes , that is the end of May or early June. They will not bulk up if you put them out too early.
Adrian.
you know the heat thing never dawned on me I seemed to look upon them like root veggies,Thank you for teaching me XX Jeannine
Quote from: adrianhumph on March 10, 2007, 08:40:35
I would not advocate sowing in a cold frame in April, celariac are very susceptable to the cold, they need sowing indoors in the warm quite early, & they need to kept warm throughout April & May , then planted out at the same time you would plant beans or squashes , that is the end of May or early June. They will not bulk up if you put them out too early.
Adrian.
This will be my first attempt at growing celariac .. so glad I found this thread thank you ;D
Ok in my heated and with lights greenhouse if I plant this week XX Jeannine
Hi Jeanninne,
As long as you can guarantee a temp of at least 50 dgs.F or 10 dgs C
that should be OK.
Adrian.