Celeriac – a variety of celery, Apium graveolens rapaceum, with a large turnip-like root, used as a vegetable. I like to grow a new vegetable each year and as I am rather partial to both celeriac and celery they were near the top of the list last year. I had attempted to grow celeriac in my previous garden and even though I had failed miserably, I thought it would be easier than attempting celery.
With naive enthusiasm I read the required treatise, bought some seed, sowed it in modules and waited and waited! It took 3 weeks for the seed to germinate! I have since discovered that unlike most vegetable seeds they need 15°C, so next year I might put them in the heated propagator. However the seedlings grow rapidly and they were ready to put into the garden at the end of April. The young plants were protected with enviromesh and left to grow on.
Celeriac is not too fussy, but likes a soil rich in organic matter and plenty of water. Normally the latter is not a problem, except this year when we had a drought. Although I watered as much as I could, irrigating my sandy soil is akin to a labour of Hercules so I was not too optimistic.The plants looked healthy with very dark green leaves but the bulbs remained puny. Another gardening experiment thwarted by the weather!
I’d just about given up when one or two plants started to bolt and as I began to clear the bed I discovered that there were some very respectable bulbs. So far the biggest has weighted in at almost 1.5 kg (trimmed). We all know that size isn’t everything but the smell was divine – earthy with the strong, green scent of celery and what I can only begin to describe as mineral undertones!
The modern varieties (I grew Monarch) produce a relatively smooth skinned bulb which is easy to clean and peel. I still have some plants in the garden and they have withstood the autumn gales well, although we had a comparatively calm autumn with nothing more than a couple of 50-60 mph blows. The flavour is excellent – it is more subtle and complex than celery, slightly nutty and with this mineral tang. Great for soups, mash or purée, roasted or grated in salad (the classic remoulade). For roasting it is better to par-boil in water for 5 minutes and for mashing add a dash of lemon juice and mix with potato or you can end up with a sloppy grey mash!
Celeriac purée seems to be one of the current favourites among the celebrity chefs, but the current favourite in the croft kitchen is celeriac soup – three ways of course!
P.S. – Celeriac is a slow developer, about 30 weeks, so you need to get in the ground no later than mid-May.
You are a very courageous gardener, Chris! Bravo!! I am glad you gave this little known veggie another try and that it worked out for you. I discovered celeriac in the 90’s when I was part of a Ladies Cooking Club. It looked super-weird but tasted incredible! I am anxious to try your soup. Today it’s 16C outside but dropping to 2C late this afternoon with snow flurries tomorrow. Silly weather, eh? But it could prove to be a good day for soup!
Fool hardy and stubborn – I hate to be beaten by a vegetable! It was worth the effort and I shall continue to grow it.
Definitely soup weather in this part of the world, hovering just above 0C but it’s still early and only just light.
Courageous for trying a new vegetable each year, or just the celeriac?! It’s a good challenge though, isn’t it, and easy to manage with only one new thing to try out. I like challenges, and even though I plan to keep my choice of vegetables to the bare minimum next year I like the idea of trying something I wouldn’t normally grow. And good to have all your celeriac tips now you have acted as guinea pig this year.
Not courageous but a gardener on a mission to show that you can grow other things other than cabbage, carrots, neeps and tatties here. I’ve not made the final choice for 2013 yet. Himself is trying Goji berries from seed!
Has Himself tried eating Goji berries? I was not impressed when I did, although they were dried and therefore perhaps a completely different kettle of fish. The bushes can be thuggish, I understand, but the Uist climate has a mind of its own and I shall be interested to see how he gets on. Now, what shall I try…?
We actually like dried Goji berries and think they may have potential for preserves or even in apple crumble. The wind tends to control thuggish tendencies, even my Sea Buckthorn is struggling!
May your Goji crop runneth over
Do not mock you may yet see Hebridean Gojis in a supermarket near you, but not soon!
I mocketh not, and wish Himself every success with cornering the Goji market, but not quite as successful as whatever you decide to try next year
Perfect weather for your soup suggestions Christine, impressive celeriac. I might be tempted to give growing it a try. I have some salsify that has self-seeded if you are interested!
Thanks Tracey I’ll take the offer of the seed and make it my new vegetable of the year. Celeriac should do well in your soil and I know you will do something delicious with the bulbs. Still some bulbs left so I’ll put your name on one for Christmas.
Thanks Christine, much appreciated. It will taste far superior to those you can buy in the shops. if I can keep the deer out, I will try and make time to dig a new area and give growing it a try next year. Baby salsify plants coming your way soon…
Thanks – see you soon.
I’m very impressed – I’ve given up on celeriac after several attempts, as I don;t get a bulb any bigger than a golfball. Am going off to sulk….
Oh dear and I’ve just convinced myself that they’re easy to grow.