Celery and celeriac have different harvest times. While one can tolerate temperatures slightly below zero, the other must be harvested before the onset of frost so that it does not become inedible. Even though celery tastes best fresh, it can be stored and frozen.
When and how do you harvest celery and celeriac?
You can harvest celery from June onwards by cutting off the stalks and leaving the plant in the bed. The harvest should be completed by October at the latest, as celery is sensitive to frost. Celeriac, on the other hand, is harvested from the end of August to December by separating the tuber from the cabbage and roots. Light frosts are not a problem.
Harvesting celery
The harvest time for celery begins in June. Since it tastes best fresh, it is harvested as needed. Here you just cut off the stalks and leave the plant in the bed. This promotes the regrowth of the celery stalks.
Celery is sensitive to frost. Frosty temperatures cause the sticks to become glassy and inedible. Since the first night frosts usually occur from October onwards, the celery should be harvested by this point.
If you have grown your celery in a pot, put it indoors from October. At temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius you can harvest it little by little.
Harvesting celeriac
Anyone who has decided to grow celeriac will start harvesting from the end of August. If you want to let your tubers grow, you can leave the celery in the bed longer. Harvesting is possible until December. Light frosts down to around -3 degrees Celsius do not affect the celeriac.
After the harvest
- Separate the celery herb from the tuber
- can be used as soup greens
- Separate roots
Storing and freezing
If the celeriac is stored in a cool and dry place, it will last for a few months. A proven method is to store in dry sand.
If the celeriac is to be frozen, it is washed and peeled. It is cut into small cubes, blanched and then frozen.
Celery is best consumed immediately after harvest. It is also suitable for freezing if washed, sliced and blanched.
Tips & Tricks
So that the celeriac can last for several months, the soil must under no circumstances be washed away. Remains of soil are best left dried on the tuber.