How to grow celeriac

Frost-hardy · Carrot family

When to sow and plant

Start indoors 25 January – 8 February
Plant out around 5 April

Based on: average for Germany, last frost 19 April, safe from 6 May

Where the dates come from

The weeks come from our sources; the dates use the average frost in Germany. Enter a German postcode to get dates for your area.

Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Celeriac)
Plant out: 2 weeks before the last frost (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Celeriac)

Good and bad neighbours

Gardeners’ lore, not proven · 2

White cabbage, Red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Chinese cabbageLore: good· D
Considered a good pair (often said to deter cabbage whites); no study found.
D: Tradition, named by at least two sources
White cabbage Red cabbage Savoy cabbage Cauliflower Broccoli Brussels sprouts Kale Chinese cabbage
SweetcornLore: bad· D
Traditionally seen as bad neighbours; no proven reason.
D: Tradition, named by at least two sources
Sweetcorn

Crop rotation

After the carrot family, leave the bed free of it for at least 4 years (sources: 4–5 years).

The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.
Example: grown here in 2026, again from 2031.
Heavy feeders two years in a row on the same bed are not a mistake, but they take more out of the soil.

At a glance

Family: Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Nutrient needs: Heavy feeder
Frost: Hardy, tolerates frost
Spacing (row × plant): 40–45 × 30 cm (16–18 × 12 in)
Plants per m²: 8.3
Life cycle: Annual
Harvest: After 110–130 days

Spacing according to RHS Grow your own: Celeriac. Other sources: – × 15–20 cm (– × 6–8 in) (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Celeriac).

Questions and answers

When can I plant out celeriac?

Plant out, average for Germany: around 5 April. Enter a German postcode above for your area, or your own frost date in the planting calendar.

How far apart should I plant celeriac?

40–45 × 30 cm (16–18 × 12 in) (row × plant), according to RHS Grow your own: Celeriac.

What grows well next to celeriac?

White cabbage, Red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Kale, Chinese cabbage: Gardeners’ lore, not proven (D) and Sweetcorn: Gardeners’ lore, not proven (D).

How long a break do celeriac need in the same bed?

After the carrot family, leave the bed free of it for at least 4 years (sources: 4–5 years). The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.

Sources

Show 8 sources

Retrieved on 23 October 2026. Facts in our own words, one source per value.