[ex-cavator]

I sowed a tray of celeriac - giant prague - in John innes seed compost about 3 weeks ago in my conservatory. They germinated really quickly, just a few days, but haven't really done anything since - they're still only about 1cm tall. Am I doing something wrong or are they generally slow?

[Aidy]

They are slow and I would normaly start them back in march. They need a long growing season to develope.

[Babstreefern]

I agree with Aidy.  I started mine back in February/March, and are now in the ground and are about 6/7cms tall, so yes, I think it may be a little late to start them now.  But do try anyway, you never know, and keep us informed if they achieve anything.  You may get them later in the year

[ex-cavator]

Oh, Well - just a newbie, I'll be learning by my mistakes 

[Aidy]

Oh, Well - just a newbie, I'll be learning by my mistakes 

We all are, its a big learning curve.

[earthing83]

I say stick with them! Mine were tiny for ages then a couple of weeks after potting on they shot up...well to 6 inches!

[ziggy66]

Agree - stick with them. As they say "two chances"

I think that one of my big mistakes this year was to use John Innes No1. I  though that this would be the best because it is low in nutrients to encourage root growth. But all the seeds I sowed in it only got so far then stopped. Once I potted on into something with a bit more oomph my celairiac have not looked back. Going into the ground this weekend (as long as I get the ground weeded and prepared first)!

Next year I will be sowing my seeds in something with a bit more nutrients to get a faster start.

[pairofacres]

I sowed loads quite early in the year and found the same thing. Thought it was the weather initially. I then transplanted them into undrained trays (actually Tescos ready meal trays ) After doing so, I found that if I kept them very wet, so the soil was practically boggy, they really took off.

[ex-cavator]

Like I say, along with my lad with whom I'm sharing a plot, I'm a newbie. This growing lark is brilliant. I don't expect we'd be successful with everything straight off, we'll make shedloads of mistakes but learn by them. It's just great to see that some things at least are doing well - the cabbages & brocolli, the garlic, onions & leeks, beetroot & radish.

Others, such as carrots and broad beans are doing, well, OK-ish. And then runner beans and sweetcorn have been a disaster.

But the beauty of it is, I can try growing whatever I fancy - I've never eaten celeriac and wanted to give it a try. OK, so I might be late and they might run out of growing time - but, Hey! - lots of little celeriac probably taste at least as good as one big one, and a packet of seed probably cost no more than one celeriac head / bulb / whatever you call them out of the supermarket