Crops › Celeriac
How to grow Celeriac
in the UK
Sow February to March, plant out April to September, harvest October to December. About 200 days from seed to plate.
Celeriac, now this is a proper root vegetable, isn't it? It takes a bit of a commitment, to be honest, but that cracking nutty flavour is well worth the effort when you pull those big knobbly bulbs from the plot later in the year.
Sowing
Celeriac is one for starting off indoors, like I say in the app notes. You'll want to get your seeds going in February or March, pop them onto the surface of some seed compost and just gently cover 'em with a smidge more. They need a bit of warmth to get going, around 15-20°C, so a propagator or a warm windowsill is just the job. Don't sow too many, they take up space for a while.
Growing on
Once your seedlings are big enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. They grow slowly, you see. You can buy plug plants if you're a bit late or just fancy an easier life, they're common now. Before planting out on the plot, harden them off properly for a couple of weeks, then get them in the ground after the last frost, usually mid to late May up here. Give 'em about 30 cm between each plant.
Looking after it
Celeriac wants a good drink, so keep the soil consistently moist, especially through any dry spells. It's a hungry plant too, you know, so a regular feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser will do it a world of good. You can also mulch around the plants to help keep the moisture in and those pesky weeds down.
What goes wrong
Slugs are dead keen on young celeriac, just like most tender seedlings, so keep an eye out for them early on. You might also spot some celery leaf miner; they make wiggly trails on the leaves. Companion planting with leeks can help a bit, but mostly it's about checking your plants regularly and squashing any grubs you find.
Harvest
It's a long haul with celeriac, about 200 days from sowing, but by October, November, or even December, those big bulbs will be ready. Dig them up carefully, you don't want to damage them. They'll keep for ages in a cool, dark place, which is handy if you've had a cracking crop and want to enjoy them through winter.
My best tip for celeriac is to make sure you give them plenty of space and keep that water going, especially when they're bulking up in late summer, it makes all the difference to the size.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Prinz This early variety gives you lovely large, smooth bulbs. It's a good choice if you're keen to get your celeriac harvest started a bit sooner. | No club votes yet |
| Monarch A really reliable maincrop variety with a good, strong flavour. If you're after a classic celeriac taste for your winter cooking, this is the one. | No club votes yet |
| Asterix F1 Cracking for its disease resistance, which can save you a bit of bother on the plot. A solid choice if you've had issues with diseases before or just want an easier ride. | No club votes yet |
| Giant Prague This is a proper traditional, heritage variety, well-loved for a reason. Expect good, traditional celeriac bulbs, great for those who like to stick to the old ways. | No club votes yet |
| Neon F1 A good one for containers due to its smoother skin and more compact growth. Perfect if you're a bit short on plot space or want to grow in pots. | No club votes yet |
| Diamant This variety is known for its high quality and generally gives you a good yield of bulbs. If you're after a top-notch crop, you won't go far wrong with this one. | No club votes yet |
| Ibis Produces lovely smooth white roots, making it a good maincrop choice. This one is easy to prepare in the kitchen thanks to that smooth skin. | No club votes yet |
| President RZ Known for its large bulbs and excellent storage qualities. If you want to keep your celeriac going through the winter months, this is a cracking option. | No club votes yet |
| Kojak Offers very smooth-skinned bulbs, which makes peeling a doddle. A great maincrop choice for anyone who hates faffing about in the kitchen. | No club votes yet |
| Tellus Another disease-resistant variety, and it's quite hardy too. This one's a good bet for reliability, especially if your plot can be a bit challenging. | No club votes yet |
| Balder This variety is particularly winter hardy, which is a real bonus up here in the North East. It means you can leave them in the ground a bit longer if you like. | No club votes yet |
| Erica A reliable maincrop choice that gives you smooth, round roots. It's a good, solid performer for a consistent harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Anita Great if you're looking for smaller, more manageable bulbs, especially for early harvests. This variety is perfect for individual portions or quicker cooking. | No club votes yet |
| Mentor Known for producing large, uniform bulbs, making it a good maincrop option. If you want a consistent size across your harvest, this one's a cracker. | No club votes yet |
| Alabaster A heritage variety that gives you pure white, smooth roots. This is a lovely traditional choice with a beautiful appearance. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Celeriac seeds
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Cook the harvest
This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a Tuesday when the fridge needs clearing — fast, deeply satisfying and better than it has any right to be. Coarsely grated raw celeriac forms the base of the hash, cooking down in the pan until the edges catch and crisp up while the inside stays tender. Leeks add sweetness, a little smoked paprika adds warmth, and a fried egg on top makes it a complete meal.
28 min · easyThick ribbons of celeriac stand in for noodles in this deeply savoury Japanese-inspired ramen, where the vegetable's earthy, celery-like flavour soaks up a rich white miso and ginger broth beautifully. The celeriac is cut into wide, flat strips so it holds its shape in the hot soup without going soft, giving you something satisfying to eat rather than a flavour footnote. Crispy fried shallots and a soft-boiled egg finish it off properly.
30 min · easyA crisp, punchy French-style remoulade that lets raw celeriac do exactly what it does best — its earthy, celery-like bite cutting beautifully against sharp apple and a mustardy crème fraîche dressing. This is the kind of salad that genuinely improves after 20 minutes in the fridge, and it works as a starter, a side, or piled into a sandwich with cold roast pork. The walnuts bring just enough crunch and richness to make it feel like a proper dish.
25 min · easyThick slabs of celeriac, boiled until just tender then crumbed and fried golden, are one of the most satisfying things you can put on a plate in winter. The flesh stays creamy inside while the coating shatters, and a sharp, salty caper and anchovy butter melting over the top is the finishing touch that makes this feel like a proper restaurant main course. It is more involved than a weeknight dinner but very achievable at the weekend.
60 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: leeks
Questions people ask
When do you sow Celeriac in the UK?
Sow Celeriac from February to March. Plant out April to September, after the last frost.
How long does Celeriac take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 200 days, with the harvest October to December.
Which Celeriac varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Prinz, Monarch, Asterix F1, Giant Prague and more.
Track your Celeriac from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.