Rex

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Rex celeriac brings a wonderfully nutty, celery-bright flavor with a creamy, fine-grained bite when roasted or simmered.

Its knobby, turnip-like crown develops into a substantial, smooth-skinned bulb with pale interior flesh that stays tender rather than woody, making it a standout for velvety purées and hearty gratins. Grow Rex for a cool-season harvest that rewards patience—110 days from sowing to a richly flavored root you’ll reach for again and again.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 110 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Feb 14th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Aug 6th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	110
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Rex celeriac earns its keep when heat turns its raw celery snap into a nutty, creamy interior that doesn’t slip into toughness. Because it’s naturally aromatic and sweet, it plays beautifully with butter-fat and savory seasonings—just keep it away from the same allium lane you’d use with onions or leeks.

Best Uses

velvety celeriac purée or mash (steam-cooked then whipped with fat)
roasted wedges that brown at the edges without going woody
thick gratins where it stays tender under a long bake
slow-simmered soups for a spoon-coating body

Flavor Profile

nutty, celery-bright bite sweet earthiness creamy, fine-grained tenderness when cooked mild bitterness that rounds into savoriness

Kitchen Pairings

butter heavy cream mustard parmesan thyme smoked salt

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often attacks celery root (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum), and how can I control it?

Celery root commonly suffers from leaf blights and early blight-like leaf spotting caused by fungal pathogens when foliage stays wet. Water at the soil line and space plants so leaves dry quickly, then remove and discard any heavily spotted leaves; if problems persist, use a labeled fungicide for edible Apiaceae and follow the label reapplication timing. Watch for aphids on new growth and knock them off with a strong spray, repeating as needed to prevent sooty mold from developing.

How often should I water celery root during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture should I aim for?

During active bulbing (roughly mid-season until harvest), keep the soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) of water per week total from rainfall and irrigation. Let the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil dry slightly between waterings, but avoid full drying out, which can lead to cracking and poor root development. Mulch helps stabilize moisture while you build the swollen root.

How do I tell when celery root is ready to harvest (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum)?

Harvest when the bulbous root reaches a good size for your spacing—often about 110 days from transplanting and when the “shoulders” are well formed above the soil line. The outer leaves should look sturdy rather than rapidly declining, and the root should feel firm with no mushy soft spots. For best quality, harvest before hard freezes; light frost can be tolerated, but prolonged cold can reduce storage life.

Rex

Planting Schedule

Crop Dates

Crop Details

Culinary Notes

Frequently Asked Questions