When to Plant Celeriac in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Celeriac guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Feb to May
- Days to harvest
- about 17 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Celeriac is an underappreciated root vegetable that deserves more attention in Australian gardens. It produces a large, knobby, celery-flavoured root that is outstanding roasted, mashed, or in soups.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb S
- Mar S
- Apr T
- May T
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Celeriac included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Celeriac in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, deep, moisture-retentive soil heavily amended with compost and well-rotted manure. Celeriac is a heavy feeder and demands fertile, humus-rich soil. Tolerates heavier soils than most root vegetables.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (3-6 hours). Tolerates more shade than most root crops. In warmer zones, afternoon shade is beneficial.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Celeriac demands consistent, generous moisture throughout its long growing season. Never let soil dry out. Water deeply 3-4 times per week. Drip irrigation ideal. Dry stress causes woody, hollow roots.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Carrot
- Keep away from
- Parsnip (shares diseases), Sweet Corn
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Celeriac
Recommended Varieties
- Giant Prague
- Monarch
Key Challenges
- Extreme water requirements incompatible with arid conditions
- Heat stress
- Low humidity causing rapid moisture loss
Pro Tips
- Only attempt in heavily mulched, shaded, drip-irrigated beds
- Consider wicking beds or self-watering containers
- This is one of the most impractical crops for arid zones, manage expectations
Pests and problems for Celeriac in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Crown Rot / Root Rot Good drainage. Do not overwater. Space plants adequately. Crop rotation (4 years for Sclerotinia). Avoid burying the crown when planting. Watch
- Septoria Leaf Spot (Late Blight of Celery) Use certified disease-free seed. Hot water seed treatment (48C for 30 minutes). Crop rotation (3 years). Avoid overhead watering. Watch
Harvesting Celeriac
When ready: Root is 10-15cm diameter, visible above soil surface. Outer leaves begin to yellow and fall. Typically 120-150 days from transplant. Root should feel firm and heavy.
How to harvest: Use a garden fork to lever out the root. Cut off leaves and side roots. Trim the base. Do not wash if storing. The root should be the size of a large grapefruit or softball.
Storing and preserving celeriac
How to keep it
- Root Cellar / Cold Storage. Trim leaves and side roots. Do not wash. Store in damp sand in a cool (1-4C), dark, humid place. Or wrap individually in damp newspaper in crisper drawer of fridge. Keeps: 3-6 months in ideal conditions.
- Freezing (Blanched). Peel and dice into 2cm cubes. Blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes. Plunge into ice water. Drain, spread on tray, freeze until solid, then bag. Excellent for soups and mash. Keeps: 12 months frozen.
- Dehydrating. Peel and slice thinly (3mm) or grate. Steam blanch 2 minutes. Spread on dehydrator trays. Dry at 55C for 8-12 hours until crisp. Powder in blender for soup base or seasoning. Keeps: 12 months in airtight container.
- Remoulade (Preserved Salad). Peel and julienne raw celeriac. Toss immediately with lemon juice to prevent browning. Mix with mustard mayonnaise dressing. Keeps well refrigerated as the acid preserves it. Keeps: 5-7 days refrigerated (fresh preparation, not long-term preservation).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Celeriac
When do you plant celeriac in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Jun
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Feb to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to May
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Aug to Dec
Can you grow celeriac all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Feb to May. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Celeriac in Alice Springs?
Only worth trying as an autumn-planted crop with plenty of water and very rich soil. Spring plantings swell their roots in summer heat and fail.
What soil temperature do Celeriac need?
Celeriac germinate best when soil temperature is between 15°C and 21°C.
How do I know when Celeriac are ready to harvest?
Root is 10-15cm diameter, visible above soil surface. Outer leaves begin to yellow and fall. Typically 120-150 days from transplant. Root should feel firm and heavy.
What are the best Celeriac varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Giant Prague, Monarch.
What grows well with Celeriac?
Good companion plants for Celeriac include: Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Carrot.
Are celeriac salt tolerant?
Only a little. Celeriac are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.