celeriacApium graveolens var. rapaceum

celeriac

celeriac

1. Apium graveolens rapaceum
2. Apium graveolens f. rapaceum
3. Apium graveolens subsp. rapaceum
4. Apium rapaceum

1. Chesnik
2. celery root
3. knob celery
4. turnip-rooted celery

1. Chesnik
2. celery root
3. knob celery
4. turnip-rooted celery

1. celeriac

Carrot family

1. staudensellerie
2. schnittsellerie

1. Root
2. Leaves

Celeriac is a versatile root vegetable that enriches autumn and winter cuisine with its savory, earthy flavor. Although considered demanding, it rewards patient gardeners with an abundant harvest of large, aromatic bulbs.

For large, tender bulbs, consistent water and nutrient supply is crucial. Ensure early pre-cultivation and protect young plants from cold stress to prevent premature bolting. Regularly removing outer leaves promotes bulb development.

Harvest takes place from August until the first hard frost. Celeriac stores exceptionally well in a cool, moist cellar or root clamp, making it a valuable winter vegetable. Bulbs should not be washed before storage, only brushed clean.

1. Tasksowing_indoor

   Label

   Start indoor sowing

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Sow seeds shallowly as celeriac is a light germinator. Consistent moisture and warmth (18-22°C) are crucial.

1. Tasksowing_indoor

   Label

   Continue indoor sowing

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Later sowings are possible, but bulbs will remain smaller.

2. Taskpricking_out

   Label

   Prick out seedlings

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Once seedlings have their first true leaves, carefully prick them out and plant deeper.

1. Tasksowing_indoor

   Label

   Last indoor sowing

   Prioritylow

   Notes

   Only for late harvest or smaller bulbs.

2. Taskpricking_out

   Label

   Prick out seedlings

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Regular pricking out promotes strong young plants.

3. Taskhardening_off

   Label

   Harden off plants

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Gradually acclimate young plants to outdoor temperatures to prevent shock.

4. Tasksowing_outdoor

   Label

   Direct sowing

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Only in mild regions and well-prepared soil. Thin out later.

1. Taskplanting_out

   Label

   Plant out

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Plant into well-prepared beds after the Ice Saints (mid-May). Do not plant too deeply.

2. Taskwatering

   Label

   Water regularly

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Consistent moisture is crucial for bulb development.

3. Taskpest_control

   Label

   Pest control

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Watch out for slugs and celery flies.

1. Taskwatering

   Label

   Water regularly

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Ensure adequate water supply, especially during dry periods.

2. Taskfertilizing

   Label

   Fertilize

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Top-dress with compost or organic vegetable fertilizer.

3. Taskmaintenance

   Label

   Remove side shoots

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Remove outer leaves and side shoots to promote bulb development.

1. Taskwatering

   Label

   Water regularly

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Consistent moisture is crucial for bulb formation.

2. Taskfertilizing

   Label

   Fertilize

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Another application of fertilizer may be beneficial.

3. Taskmaintenance

   Label

   Remove side shoots

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Continue to remove side shoots and older outer leaves.

1. Taskwatering

   Label

   Water regularly

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Bulbs are growing rapidly now and require a lot of water.

2. Taskharvest

   Label

   First harvest

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Early varieties can be harvested once bulbs reach the desired size.

1. Taskwatering

   Label

   Water regularly

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Ensure sufficient moisture even during the main harvest period.

2. Taskharvest

   Label

   Harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Carefully lift bulbs from the soil.

1. Taskharvest

   Label

   Harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Harvest late varieties. Bulbs can remain in the ground as long as no hard frost is imminent.

2. Taskwinter_preparation

   Label

   Winter preparation

   Prioritymedium

   Notes

   Cover unharvested bulbs with leaves or straw to protect them from light frost.

1. Taskharvest

   Label

   Final harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Notes

   Harvest all remaining bulbs before the first prolonged hard frost.

Full sun to partial shade

Sheltered

A sunny, sheltered location promotes growth. Consistent moisture is more important than direct sun.

Humus-rich, deep

Loose, well-drained, crumbly

Heavy, compacted, or stony soils lead to small, malformed bulbs. Good soil preparation with compost is essential.

Regular and consistent

Especially during bulb formation, the soil must not dry out. Avoid waterlogging.

Regularly during the growing season

Organic vegetable fertilizer, compost

A good base fertilization with mature compost before planting is important. During growth, fertilize every 3-4 weeks with liquid fertilizer or nettle manure.

Celeriac is a heavy feeder and should not be grown in the same bed for several consecutive years. A cultivation break of 3-4 years is recommended.

Carrot family (Apiaceae)

Heavy feeder

1. Slugerbse

   Name

   Pea

2. Slugbohne

   Name

   Bean

3. Sluggruenduengung

   Name

   Green manure

1. Slugmoehre

   Name

   Carrot

2. Slugpetersilie

   Name

   Parsley

3. Slugfenchel

   Name

   Fennel

4. Slugsellerie

   Name

   Celery

1. Slugsalat

   Name

   Lettuce

2. Slugspinat

   Name

   Spinach

As a heavy feeder and member of the carrot family, celeriac requires a cultivation break of at least 3 years from other Apiaceae crops to prevent diseases and pests and to avoid depleting the soil.

1. Slugbormangel

   Name

   Boron Deficiency

   Description

   Boron deficiency causes internal brown spots and hollows in the bulb, often not visible from the outside. The bulb can also become cracked and woody.

   Symptoms

   1. Internal browning and hollows in the bulb
   2. Cracked, woody bulbs
   3. Stunted growing tips
   4. Leaves may become brittle

   Control methods

   1. Conduct soil analysis
   2. Targeted fertilization with boron (e.g., borax in small amounts, only if deficiency is proven!)
   3. Use compost and organic fertilizers containing trace elements

   Prevention

   1. Balanced fertilization with compost
   2. Regular soil analysis in suspected cases
   3. Maintain soil pH in the optimal range (6.0-7.0)

   Severityhigh
2. Slugcalciummangel

   Name

   Calcium Deficiency

   Description

   Calcium deficiency often manifests as heart rot, as calcium is crucial for cell wall stability and water transport. Especially common with irregular watering or acidic soil.

   Symptoms

   1. Death of the youngest leaves in the heart of the plant
   2. Stunted growth
   3. Heart and stem rot

   Control methods

   1. Enrich soil with calcified seaweed or eggshells
   2. Ensure consistent water supply

   Prevention

   1. Regular lime applications for acidic soils
   2. Consistent soil moisture
   3. Good soil aeration

   Severitymedium
3. Slugkaliummangel

   Name

   Potassium Deficiency

   Description

   Potassium is important for bulb development and plant resilience. Deficiency leads to poor growth and yellow leaf margins.

   Symptoms

   1. Yellow or brown margins on older leaves
   2. Stunted bulb growth
   3. Weak plants, more susceptible to diseases

   Control methods

   1. Fertilize with potassium-rich fertilizer (e.g., wood ash, potassium sulfate)
   2. Use compost with high potassium content

   Prevention

   1. Balanced base fertilization with compost
   2. Regular top-dressing during the growing season

   Severitymedium

Boron deficiency is a common cause of quality problems in celeriac. Balanced nutrient supply and soil analysis are important.

1. Slugschossen

   Name

   Bolting (premature flowering)

   Description

   Celeriac is biennial and flowers in its second year. Cold stress (temperatures below 10°C for extended periods) during the juvenile phase can lead to premature bolting in the first year, severely impairing bulb development.

   Causes

   1. Cold stress during the juvenile phase
   2. Strong temperature fluctuations
   3. Stress due to drought or nutrient deficiency

   Prevention

   1. Plant out only after the last frosts (mid-May)
   2. Harden off young plants well, but protect from cold
   3. Consistent cultivation without stress

   Severityhigh
2. Slugplatzende_knollen

   Name

   Cracked Bulbs

   Description

   Bulbs crack when a sudden large amount of water is supplied after a prolonged dry period. The bulb rapidly absorbs water, and the outer layer cannot withstand the pressure.

   Causes

   1. Irregular water supply
   2. Strong fluctuations between drought and wetness

   Prevention

   1. Consistent and sufficient water supply
   2. Mulching the soil to regulate moisture

   Severitymedium
3. Slugholzige_knollen

   Name

   Small, woody, or malformed Bulbs

   Description

   Bulbs remain small, become hard, or develop an irregular shape. This can be caused by planting too deeply, lack of water, nutrient deficiency, or compacted soil.

   Causes

   1. Planting too deeply
   2. Lack of water
   3. Nutrient deficiency
   4. Compacted or stony soil
   5. Diseases or pests

   Prevention

   1. Do not plant too deeply (heart of the plant should be above ground)
   2. Consistent water and nutrient supply
   3. Prepare deep, loose soil

   Severitymedium

Most problems with celeriac are due to unfavorable growing conditions, especially irregular water and nutrient supply and cold stress.

1. Insects (flies, aphids)
2. Slugs

1. Fungal diseases
2. Bacterial rot

1. Practice crop rotation (at least 3 years break from other Apiaceae).
2. Choose a sunny, sheltered location with deep, humus-rich soil.
3. Ensure consistent water supply, especially during bulb formation.
4. Provide balanced nutrient supply, particularly potassium and boron.
5. Maintain adequate plant spacing for good air circulation.
6. Use insect netting against celery fly.
7. Do not plant too deeply; the heart of the plant should remain above ground.
8. Regularly inspect plants for the first signs of pests or diseases.

Look for discolorations, spots, feeding marks on leaves and bulbs, and stunted growth. Precise observation of symptoms is crucial for correct diagnosis.

1. Slugselleriefliege

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Humid-warm weather
   2. Lack of prevention

   Affected parts

   1. Leaves

   Prevention

   1. Insect netting (May-July)
   2. Companion planting with leeks/onions

   Organic control

   1. Remove infested leaves
   2. Yellow sticky traps
   3. Promote beneficial insects
2. Slugsellerieblattfleckenkrankheit

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Humid weather
   2. Poor air circulation
   3. Dense planting

   Affected parts

   1. Leaves

   Prevention

   1. Crop rotation
   2. Adequate plant spacing
   3. Water soil directly
   4. Resistant varieties

   Organic control

   1. Remove and destroy infected leaves
   2. Organic fungicides (copper-based)
3. Slugbormangel

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Soil with low boron content
   2. High soil pH
   3. Drought

   Affected parts

   1. Bulb (internal)
   2. Leaves

   Prevention

   1. Balanced fertilization with compost
   2. Soil analysis
   3. Regulate pH

   Organic control

   1. Targeted boron fertilization (after analysis)
   2. Boron-containing organic fertilizers
4. Slugschossen

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Cold stress in juvenile phase (<10°C)
   2. Strong temperature fluctuations

   Affected parts

   1. Entire plant
   2. Bulb

   Prevention

   1. Plant out after Ice Saints
   2. Harden off and protect young plants
   3. Consistent cultivation

   Organic control

   1. No direct control possible, only prevention

1. Symptom

   Blister-like swellings on leaves, later brown and dried up.

   Possible causes

   1. selleriefliege

   First checks

   1. Check undersides of leaves for larvae
   2. Is insect netting intact?
2. Symptom

   Small, round, brown spots on leaves that enlarge and merge.

   Possible causes

   1. sellerieblattfleckenkrankheit

   First checks

   1. Check humidity and air circulation
   2. Is plant spacing adequate?
3. Symptom

   Internal browning and hollows in the bulb, bulb cracked or woody.

   Possible causes

   1. bormangel

   First checks

   1. Conduct soil analysis
   2. Check fertilization practices
4. Symptom

   Plant forms a flower stalk prematurely, bulb remains small and hard.

   Possible causes

   1. schossen

   First checks

   1. Check temperatures during juvenile phase
   2. Is planting time correct?
5. Symptom

   Youngest leaves in the heart of the plant die off, heart and stem rot.

   Possible causes

   1. calciummangel
   2. herzfaeule

   First checks

   1. Check soil pH
   2. Is water supply consistent?
6. Symptom

   Yellow or brown margins on older leaves, stunted bulb growth.

   Possible causes

   1. kaliummangel

   First checks

   1. Check fertilization practices
   2. Soil analysis
7. Symptom

   Bulbs crack open.

   Possible causes

   1. platzende_knollen

   First checks

   1. Check water supply (drought followed by heavy watering?)

1. Germination (14-21 days)
2. Leaf development (rosette)
3. Bulb formation (from July/August)
4. Flower stalk formation (in the second year, or in the first year if cold-stressed)

Celeriac is a biennial plant that forms the edible bulb in the first year and flowers and sets seeds in the second year. Cold stress during the juvenile phase can lead to premature bolting, which impairs bulb development.

June - August (in the second year)

Small, whitish flowers in umbels

Flowers only appear in the second year of growth if the plant has overwintered. They are attractive to insects.

August - November

Bulbs can be harvested as soon as they reach the desired size, typically from August onwards. The main harvest takes place in autumn before the first hard frost. Light frost does not harm the bulbs in the ground and can even improve their flavor.

Single harvest of the bulb; leaves can be harvested sparingly and continuously.

1. Bulb diameter of 10-15 cm
2. Firm, undamaged bulb
3. Before the first prolonged hard frost

After harvesting, remove the outer leaves and fine roots. Do not wash the bulbs, but brush off soil and allow them to dry slightly in a cool, airy place before storage.

1. Cool and moist in a cellar or root clamp
2. Packed in moist sand
3. Frozen (blanched)

Celeriac stores very well and is an excellent winter vegetable. High humidity is important to prevent drying out.

Root vegetable (cool, dark, moist)

3-5 months under optimal conditions

1. Freezing (peeled, diced, and blanched)
2. Pickling (sour)
3. Drying (as a spice or soup vegetable)

Peeling, boiling, steaming, roasting, pureeing

Pickling, drying, fermenting

The bulb is very versatile in the kitchen. The leaves can be used like leaf celery.

1. Soups and stews (as a base or ingredient)
2. Puree (alone or mixed with potatoes)
3. Gratins and casseroles
4. Roasted or baked (as a side dish or main course)
5. Raw, grated in salads (e.g., celeriac remoulade)
6. As a vegetable side dish (steamed, boiled)
7. Flavoring for broths and sauces

Savory, earthy, slightly nutty, milder than stalk celery

1. Apples (in salads)
2. Potatoes
3. Carrots
4. Leeks
5. Mushrooms
6. Nuts
7. Herbs like parsley, thyme, bay leaf

Celeriac is an excellent low-carb alternative to potatoes and has an intense but delicate flavor.

1. Bulb (hypocotyl)
2. Young leaves (sparingly as seasoning)

1. Older, fibrous leaves and stalks
2. Roots

Celeriac is safe for most people to eat. Individuals with a celery allergy should avoid contact and consumption, as severe allergic reactions can occur.

Yes, the bulb can be grated raw in salads.

Medium (biennial, isolation distance)

Celeriac is biennial and only flowers in its second year. For seed saving, plants must be overwintered. As celery species readily cross-pollinate, sufficient isolation distance from other Apium graveolens varieties (stalk celery, leaf celery) is required.

In autumn, dig up plants with bulbs, remove outer leaves, store bulbs in moist sand or soil in a cool, frost-free cellar. Replant in spring.

At least 800 meters from other Apium graveolens varieties for pure seeds.

Seeds ripen unevenly in the umbels. Harvest when the first seeds turn brown and fall off easily. Cut off umbels and allow to dry further in a dry, airy place.

Rub dried umbels to release seeds. Separate from chaff by sieving and winnowing.

Store dry, cool, and dark. Viability 3-5 years.

For good seed production, several plants should be overwintered to ensure sufficient genetic diversity.

Celeriac is not a woody plant, so these details are not applicable.

Celeriac flowers in the second year provide a food source for bees and other insects. The bulbs themselves are less attractive to wildlife, but can be nibbled by rodents if food is scarce.