Wilhelmsburger

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Sweet, nutty celeriac—Wilhelmsburger—forms a broad, turnip-like crown with a clean, creamy interior that feels wonderfully dense and smooth.

Its flavor is gently savory with a delicate celery brightness, and the texture stays firm and velvety from harvest through storage. Grow it for elegant roasts, silky purées, and fragrant gratins, or shave it fresh for crisp salads and bright, aromatic slaws.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 110 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Wilhelmsburger

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)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Wilhelmsburger celeriac has that creamy, dense interior that purées into a smooth, spoon-thick texture without getting grainy. Use it when you want celery brightness paired with a nutty sweetness—roast or gratin it until browned at the edges, or shave it raw for a clean, crisp bite under sharp dressing.

Best Uses

silky purée—steam until tender, then blend with butter/cream for a tight, creamy spoon-coating texture
elegant roast wedges or batons where the surface caramelizes but the center stays firm
fragrant gratin—slice thin and bake until creamy-golden without turning woolly
raw shave for crisp salads and sharp slaw when dressed lightly to stay snappy

Flavor Profile

sweet, nutty celeriac gentle savory depth with a delicate celery-bright edge dense, smooth, velvety bite keeps texture through roasting and storage

Kitchen Pairings

butter cream whole-grain mustard black pepper thyme pork

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage celery root (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) problems like early blight/leaf spot?

Celery root often develops leaf blight or leaf spots that start as small, brown-to-gray lesions on older leaves and spread in humid weather. Remove affected leaves promptly and water at soil level (not overhead) to keep foliage dry, then improve airflow by thinning to proper spacing. If spots keep expanding, use a labeled fungicide for leaf spot in Apiaceae and reapply according to the label during cool, wet stretches (where it’s actively spreading).

How often should I water celery root during the main growing phase?

During the main root-fattening period, keep soil consistently evenly moist—aim for roughly 1 inch (2–3 cm) of water per week, adjusting for heat and soil type. Water deeply, then let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly before the next watering to prevent rot while still supporting steady root growth. Mulch helps stabilize moisture so the root doesn’t stall or crack from wet–dry swings.

When is Wilhelmsburger (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 110 days when the celery root has a firm, well-formed bulb and the leaves are still mostly green (not fully collapsed). A good check is size and firmness: the root should feel solid with minimal soft spots when you gently clear soil around the base. For best flavor, harvest before hard frosts; after a light frost, you can harvest once leaves look damaged and the root is fully mature.