Edible plant · roots bulbs

Celeriac

Apium graveolens var. rapaceum

Also known asCelery root · Knob celery · Turnip-rooted celery · Apium rapaceum · Céleri-rave

intermediate cool-season aquaponic-ready single

Use in garden planner

Days to harvest

110–160

Yield / plant

0.5kg

Spacing

25 cm

Daily light

12–18DLI

Environment

The bounded range this crop tolerates.

Temperature

5152535

7–22°C

45.578.5

6–7

EC (hydro)

01234

1.4–2.2 mS/cm

Daily light

5152535

12–18 mol/m²/d

✓Single harvest

Climate and zones

USDA zones: 3–9 (winter low around -40°C)
Frost: frost hardy
Season: cool (spring/fall)

✓Outdoor year-round (in zone)

✓Outdoor in growing season

✓Unheated greenhouse / hoop

·Heated greenhouse

·Indoor (heated home)

·Indoor hydroponics + grow lights

Growing systems

Root mass: heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.

·Deep water culture (rafts)

·NFT channels

·Vertical / aeroponic tower

·Drip / Dutch buckets

✓Media bed (ebb and flow)

✓Wicking bed

✓Soil bed

Growing media

Medium	pH effect	Retention	Bacterial surface
Soil-based mix (Potting soil)	varies	high	high
Coco coir (Coconut coir)	slightly acidic	high	moderate

Nutrient demand by stage

NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.

Stage	N	P	K	EC (mS/cm)
seedling	1	1	1	0.7
vegetative	2	1	2	1.7

Aquaponics suitability

Compatible

Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.

Care notes

A long-season, moderately tricky root crop. It needs a deep medium, about 20 cm, in media beds or large containers. Hold EC around 1.4-2.2 mS/cm and pH 6.0-7.0. It is cool-season, best at 15–22°C, and bolts in sustained heat over 25°C. Keep light moderate, 12-18 mol/m2/day. The season is long, 100 to 120 days or more from transplant, and seed should be started indoors 10 to 12 weeks ahead, since germination is slow (two to three weeks) and early growth is sluggish. The swollen base forms at the surface, so do not bury it, and removing lower side roots and leaves encourages a smooth, compact bulb. Steady moisture is critical; drought makes the root hollow, pithy and cracked. Boron deficiency causes brown corky spots inside. Harvest when the swelling is 8–12 cm across. The stalks and leaves are edible and good for flavouring stock.

Notable varieties

Cultivar	Type	Days	Notes
Brilliant	open pollinated	110	Earlier-maturing German cultivar. White-fleshed root with smoother skin than most celeriac, less prone to internal browning. Good choice for shorter-season climates. Stores well.
Giant Prague	heirloom	120	Late-1800s Czech heirloom, the classic kitchen-garden celeriac. Larger roots than modern cultivars, slightly more knobby. Excellent flavor, the variety chefs reach for. Heat-tolerant relative to other celeriacs.
Mars	hybrid	130	Modern F1 with smoother skin and resistance to internal browning. Reliable production for commercial growers and home gardens with consistent moisture. Stores 6+ months in cool conditions.