Allotments 4 All

I love celeriac and found a lovely recipe for roast butternut squash and celeriac, so went to see

how mine were doing in my garden.

Talk about disappointment!

Healthy foliage, but no rootball - for the 2nd year in a row.

I refuse to pay inflated supermarket prices so shall be asking santa to bring me some

in my stocking - better than a piece of coal  ;D

I have had to give up my allotment for various reasons, and have decided that 2007 will

be the year that I convert a section of my garden into a veg growing area.

So PLEASE...

"Can someone give me helpful hints and tips for a bountiful Celeriac harvest next year?!!"

I REFUSE to be beaten by a vegetable!!!

Debs :-[

we planted ours in a bed full of leafmould mixed in with the soil, it likes a moist soil, don't let it dry out
we started our first lot off in jiffy 7's, then the second lot in the ground.
we got quite a few small ones but also some that weighed 3/4 of a lb
the best thing is they are all nice inside, we had some last year that were hollow inside and a nasty black colour
mind you, the weather this year hasn't helped  :)

I've only grown them a few times, and this year was the worst for size.
Probably the dry weather as they need a well drained, moist soil which has loads of well rotted compost, with mulching around the base to retain moisture and supress weeds.
- I do recall being told to remove the bottom leaves from the rootball as it's growing, but don't know why!!!!

 Hi Debs,  :D
                     Sorry to hear about you having to give up the plot :( If you want to grow celariacs from seed the first thing to do is sow them very early, no later than mid March. Then once you have pricked the seedlings out you have to cosset them indoors or in a heated greenhouse as they object to the cold. They need to be kept in until the end of May(or the same time you would think about planting out pumpkins). I put them out on sunny warm days , but bring them in at night.  When planted out they like well manured ground & plenty of water during the growing season. To short circuit the early stages, order from dobies 20 plants that they have grown for you ;D I did this this year & they are very good, not quite as big as the ones I grew last year but an awful lot less fuss :D They are the same price next year ,£3.95p. All 20 of mine have survived & they represent very good value for money compared with the supermarkets.

                                                                                                   Adrian.
                     

:) A friend at work gave me 8 seedlings to plant 2 died 6 did all right, 3 only the size of a tangerine. I sliced it up, and put in freezer and throw some in with a roast 3 still in the ground so don't know how big they'll be I just gave it plenty of water in the summer.

maybe I'll give it a go as well... have tried before with no success...
:(

"I do recall being told to remove the bottom leaves from the rootball as it's growing, but don't know why!!!!"by tin can

we did it this year and we don't know why either, did earth them up with compost though  :)

I started ours late in the greenhouse - hardened them off in the cold frame then planted most of them out at about twice the recommended density into a 4ft x 4ft plot where I had forked in half a bag of multi-compost the week before. They're not particularly big but the close planting kept the weeds down and as we have thinned out by cropping, the remaining ones continue to get larger - but it is warmer down here and we have light soil. There were around 30 plants in the area in front of the shed door

The ones at more normal spacing elsewhere on the plot are bigger but with  more weed problems. On balance I think we should  reduce the starting density a bit next year.

I've not grown them but have heard/read they are hungry feeders and even more thirsty!!!!!!!

Feed and wet they like, I never bother removing lower leaves and don't earth up

I grew them for the first time this year. Started them indoors in pots, hardened off and planted out - quite well spaced. Lots of compost (from heap) where I planted. Watered when I remembered. Trimmed leaves from some - apparently it lets the sun in to ripen them (Joy Larkcom) but haven't noticed any discernible difference. They've all been good - at least 5-6 inches diameter.

:D I did take off bottom leaves and earthed up but can't remember where I got the information from.

Thankyou all for the replies :D

I do not have a problem germinating the seed and have kept them reasonably well watered, also

removed lower leaves, so maybe they did not like the soil ???

I think i shall try a combination of methods next year and hope for 3rd time lucky.

Definately worth perservering with as the veg is so delish but so expensive to buy.

Debs x

Gosh, Jim, yours look great! Ours were kinda small but we didn't give them much love. Will try again next year. Were tasty anyway!

Celeriac is really cheap to buy in Lidl's!!! in case you cant grow it!

Olive Oil - shall be hot footing it down to Lidl  ;)

Growmore - They look fantastic, which ones were they?

Debs