Celery is not just celery. Celeriac differs from celery in many ways - including in the harvest. What must be considered so that nothing goes wrong during the harvest and afterwards?
The right harvest time
There is no specific point in time when the celeriac has to be harvested. It can be harvested over a longer period of time. Basically, the harvest is possible from August if it was sown in time. However, it is more advisable to harvest it between the end of October and the beginning of November.
The longer the tubers are allowed to stay in the ground, the bigger they get. But before the first big frost period, they should be freed from the ground. If the tubers are exposed to temperatures below -4 °C, they will be damaged. Among others, their taste suffers.
How to proceed?
It is ideal to get the tubers out of the ground when there is a drought. In contrast to celery, the plants are not cut off on the surface, but their bulbs are harvested from under the ground.
A digging fork can help. With her you stab under the tubers. Now push the tubers out of the ground and up to the surface. Be careful not to damage the tubers. With a bit of luck, you can look forward to a yield of between 2.5 and 3 kg of celeriac per square meter.
Immediately after harvest…
… the sources of error do not suddenly disappear. The following must be observed:
- trim the roots with a knife
- twist off the coarse leaves (removes moisture and can then be used as soup greens)
- leave the heart leaves on the tubers
- store the tubers correctly, e.g. B. in sand in the basement or alternatively process immediately
tips and tricks
Celeriac can be stored for a few months. To do this, it is advisable not to wash it, but to let the earth cling to it. This reduces the risk of rot.