Celeriac and celery are the same species grown for different parts of the plant -- which means if you're saving seed from one, the other has to be kept well away, or you'll get an unpredictable hybrid instead of either.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Difficult
High crossing risk
How It's Pollinated
Insect-pollinated (high outcrossing)
(High crossing risk)
Scientific name: Apium graveolens
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Other celeriac varieties
- Celery -- same species (Apium graveolens), different variety group, and will cross freely
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- Wild celery grows in some coastal and marshy areas and can cross if present nearby
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 500m between varieties
Recommended: 800m-1km for reliable purity
Strict: Bag and hand-pollinate flower heads for guaranteed purity
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Biennial -- overwinter roots (mild zones) or lift and store, replant in spring
- Allow umbels to dry brown on the plant
- Harvest before seed shatters, finish drying indoors
- Store dry -- viable 3-5 years