How to grow celeriac?

Celeriac is a vegetable that has been cultivated since ancient times. This vegetable is mainly used for eating its root, as the leaves have a certain bitterness unlike its cousin, celeriac. Sown under cover from February to April, celeriac is harvested from August until the frosts. It is possible to sow directly in the ground from April onwards, depending on the region.

Favourable conditions for celeriac development

As with many plants, preparing the vegetable garden soil is an essential step before planting celeriac. As such, the soil must be cleared of stones that interfere with root growth and weeds that may compete with the crop. In addition to copious watering, each celeriac plant should be spaced 30-40 cm apart on all sides. As far as exposure is concerned, the ideal position is in the garden in full sun in spring, and a shadier spot in summer. From a permaculture point of view, you can, of course, install mulch, which will have the beneficial effect of limiting the growth of unwanted weeds as well as watering.

In order to give yourself the best chance of harvesting good-sized celeriac, the first step is to plant them in fertile soil. To do this, you can add organic manure to the planting area in the vegetable garden. Don't hesitate to put plenty of it in!!!!

As the plant develops, it will leave small leaves around the edges, which you will take care to remove using a sharp tool. You can apply the same process to the roots that emerge from the soil. In the garden, some plants are stimulated by the presence of other plants in their vicinity. This is a well-integrated principle in permaculture that works for celeriac cultivation. It can be combined with plants such as cucurbits, cabbage, beetroot, beans, leeks, tomatoes and pears. On the other hand, parsley, lettuce and maize are not favourable combinations.

Diseases and pests of celeriac

Among the ailments that can affect celeriac are septoria, which attacks the plant's foliage when the weather is hot and humid. One way to prevent this is to favour watering at the start of the day. In fact, this disease develops when moisture stagnates on the leaves, a situation that is favoured if plants are watered in the evening. Celery flies can also infest plants by laying their eggs in the leaves. The larvae create galleries in the leaves, gradually causing them to wither. A natural insecticide, among other things, may be useful. Slugs and snails also like celeriac leaves, and enjoy eating them. It is also possible for spots to appear on the foliage in wet weather combined with a drop in temperature. This is known as celery rust. In this case, treatment with Bordeaux mixture or alternative measures may prove beneficial.