When to Plant Celeriac in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
Sow February to June. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is February.
Grow Celeriac in your space
- Planting window
- A slow crop that is challenging here. Sow in late summer to autumn so it grows through the mild winter, and keep it well watered in...
- Days to harvest
- about 17 weeks
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (3-6 hours). Tolerates more shade than most root crops. In warmer zones, afternoon shade is beneficial.
- Water needs
- Celeriac demands consistent, generous moisture throughout its long growing season. Never...
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Celeriac guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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. It requires patience (120+ days), consistent moisture, and rich soil, making it a more advanced crop. Best suited to cool-temperate and cold-highland zones; struggles in tropical and subtropical heat.
See what grows now in your own postcode
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | S | S | S/T | T | T | - | - | - | - | - | - |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 21.2°C (optimal range: 15–21°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
That figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 7:55 this morning, not a model.
What this month normally looks like
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
How to Grow Celeriac in Subtropical Australia
When to Plant
A slow crop that is challenging here. Sow in late summer to autumn so it grows through the mild winter, and keep it well watered in moisture-holding soil.
- 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.
- 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...
Companion plants: Leek, Bean, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower
Avoid planting near: Carrot, Parsnip (shares diseases), Corn
Grow before, grow after
Celeriac belongs with the root crops, the roots and alliums turn of a four turn bed rotation.
- 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.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Celeriac
Recommended Varieties
- Giant Prague
- Monarch
Key Challenges
- Marginal climate, needs a long, cool growing season
- Summer heat kills seedlings if started too late
- Aphid and leaf miner pressure
Pro Tips
- Start seeds in February in a cool indoor spot. They need 10-12 weeks before transplanting
- This is an advanced crop for subtropical growers. Not recommended for beginners
- Raised beds with excellent drainage essential
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.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon 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, Jun 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
Does celeriac grow all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Feb to Jun. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.