Celeriac autumn feed?

**VirginVegGrower** · 26-08-2011, 10:06 PM

Some people feed liquid manure and I have been wondering about this. What size are yours if that's not too rude a question? Mine are the size of a tennis ball. Regular watering makes them swell.

**sweetcorn** · 27-08-2011, 07:32 AM

I've grown celeriac for the first time - I was interested to read that you need to pull some of the leaves off. How many do you remove? Mine are around tennis ball size, growing in a heavily manured soil - do I still need to feed them?

**Two_Sheds** · 27-08-2011, 07:50 AM

Pull off all the leaves except the top ones, to leave the 'ball' exposed. I've composted the whole crop two years running, so fingers crossed for some celeriac this year: I put a compost bag underneath them to try and help with the moisture thing

**VirginVegGrower** · 27-08-2011, 09:46 AM

Concur with TS lower leaves only leaving tops. Sharp knife is best for doing this.

**Thelma Sanders** · 27-08-2011, 09:36 PM

I didn't know I had to do that either..you learn something new everyday

**Paulottie** · 28-08-2011, 11:40 AM

I just tear off the outside leaves...sharp knife?... might damage me

or the celeriac....although I am experimenting with root pruning a few at the end of the row with my Opinel; To see if I can't get a better globe.....often feel disappointed that i lose so much flesh with the tangled mess underneath. I think I read about it many years ago. anyway can only try.

Anyhow if you've got to tennis ball by now your doing well....keep watering. If you want to feed them then you might try a nitrogen rich mix like chicken poo pellets to keep them producing leaves.

I quite often cloche some to keep the leaves growing as the nights get colder because, although they stand into Winter amazingly well, they do tend to stop swelling much.

**BarleySugar** · 28-08-2011, 07:41 PM

I pull off the leaves when the stems split, the bulbs so far sound like the same size as most, tennis balls, although mine are larger than those on the neighbouring plot. I think they look better than the ones I've grown in the garden in past years, but I think I will give mine a feed to boost them before the weather gets truly colder

( now someone has given me the idea).

**Alison** · 29-08-2011, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by BarleySugar View Post

I pull off the leaves when the stems split, the bulbs so far sound like the same size as most, tennis balls, although mine are larger than those on the neighbouring plot. I think they look better than the ones I've grown in the garden in past years, but I think I will give mine a feed to boost them before the weather gets truly colder

( now someone has given me the idea).

I've never had the stems splitting so not really sure what you're meaning by that but then again, only grown them twice and they didn't swell hardly at all last year - not sure about this year yet as not pulled any up

**VirginVegGrower** · 29-08-2011, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by Alison View Post

I've never had the stems splitting so not really sure what you're meaning by that but then again, only grown them twice and they didn't swell hardly at all last year - not sure about this year yet as not pulled any up

Can you not see their shoulders?

**binley100** · 29-08-2011, 09:54 PM

The stems of the outside leaves split as the root swells .....I've just given mine a chicken poo feed and even if nothing else gets watered the celeriac and celery does.... This is the first time i've grown them , didn't know about root pruning , hows that done then ?

**endymion** · 29-08-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally posted by binley100 View Post

The stems of the outside leaves split as the root swells .....

That's what ours are doing. The base of the stems are splitting, making the leaves fall outwards. Those are the ones we're 'routinely' taking off.

We're also, carefully, pulling some leaves to use in cooking. They've got a stronger taste than celery but don't seem quite as stringy.

I'm, frankly, amazed by how tall our best plants are. We ended up measuring them and they're just over 3ft tall! These are the ones that are growing in between two rows of dwarf French beans. The beans are still cropping so we can't yet see how big the roots are.

Originally posted by binley100 View Post

... didn't know about root pruning , hows that done then?

Haven't a clue! I can't imagine how it would benefit the plants, nor how you'd get at the roots to prune them. Surely if you cut the roots they'll just grow even more, and get even more tangled?

**50010MONARCH** · 30-08-2011, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by Paulottie View Post

Anyhow if you've got to tennis ball by now your doing well....keep watering. If you want to feed them then you might try a nitrogen rich mix like chicken poo pellets to keep them producing leaves.
.

Do you just sprinkle a couple round each Ball ?

**Alison** · 30-08-2011, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by VirginVegGrower View Post

Can you not see their shoulders?

No, am pretty sure they're all underground as they were last year. Will check tonight when I go up. Am guessing that there won't be much crop then. I started them off inside in the spring and they've had loads of water. Do you think I might have planted them too deeply or am I just a bit rubbish with them? Any idea on soil preference?

Originally posted by binley100 View Post

The stems of the outside leaves split a
s the root swells .....

Could be that mine just aren't swelling so this isn't happening.

Originally posted by endymion View Post

I'm, frankly, amazed by how tall our best plants are. We ended up measuring them and they're just over 3ft tall! These are the ones that are growing in between two rows of dwarf French beans. The beans are still cropping so we can't yet see how big the roots are.

Blimey, mine aren't anywhere near that tall, only about a foot or so at the most. Will give them some more feed and see what happens.

**VirginVegGrower** · 30-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Don't write yourself off Alison as celeriac is a bit hit and miss.

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Celeriac autumn feed?

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