PlantSowGrow
How to grow Celeriac (Prinz)
Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
Knobbly roots with a mellow celery flavour, for soups, mash and remoulade. Needs a long season and plenty of water.
At a glance: Sow early February to early March, harvest from early October.
When to sow, plant and harvest
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Celeriac (Prinz): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water regularly in dry weather
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Spacing
- 30 cm
- In pots
- Best in the ground
- Feeding
- A general feed before sowing or planting
- Harvest
- About 70 days from sowing
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–9
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Step by step
- Early February – early March · 10 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover. Surface-sow — the seed needs light — and keep at 15°C or more.
- 14–21 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Mid February – late February
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 14–21 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 30 cm apart when big enough to handle.
- 14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Early March – mid March
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
- Mid April · 4 days after the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
- Late April – late May · 2 weeks after the last spring frost
Plant Out
Plant out 30 cm apart and water in well.
- 30–45 days after “Plant Out” · Late May – mid June
Keep Well Watered
Never let celeriac dry out. In late summer, remove lower leaves to expose the crown.
- Early October – early December · 2 weeks before the first autumn frost
Start Harvesting
Lift from October when roots are 10–15 cm across.
- 60–90 days after “Start Harvesting” · Early December – early January
Finish and Clear
Clear the remains to the compost heap once cropping ends.
