Does anybody grow Celeriac Seeds - "Mars" ?

We're making some selections to try new vegetation in the garden this year and I was curious if anyone has had any experience with this Mars plant... I think I saw that many parts of the plant could be used as rabbit feed, so I guess that would be worst-case scenario, but the plant looks/sounds like it could be a fun add to stir-fry (for stir-fridays of course)...

I've grown celeriac in the past, but not a specific variety. It takes a *long* time to get past baby stage, needs a longer warm period and more moisture than I can easily give it (we have summer droughts), but the leaves are a great celery substitute (something else that I can't easily grow), and the root is totally awesome in soups and stews.

If it will grow well in your environment, I would give it a go. Is there something special about the variety you named? If so, hopefully someone here on permies will have some direct experience with it!

Jay Angler wrote:I've grown celeriac in the past, but not a specific variety. It takes a *long* time to get past baby stage, needs a longer warm period and more moisture than I can easily give it (we have summer droughts), but the leaves are a great celery substitute (something else that I can't easily grow), and the root is totally awesome in soups and stews.

If it will grow well in your environment, I would give it a go. Is there something special about the variety you named? If so, hopefully someone here on permies will have some direct experience with it!

Nope! There is nothing specific about the variety, I just happened upon that one and was researching it... I'd be interested in trying my hand at any variety of it just for the experience alone, it sounds like it'll grow great out here as long as it's got mulch over it! I'll report back what I figure out over the season, thanks for the info!

Jay Angler wrote:I've grown celeriac in the past, but not a specific variety. It takes a *long* time to get past baby stage,

I've also grown celeriac.  This year I'm growing "Brilliant' from Johnny's.  I bought it at the end of last year when they had their discounted seed sale, but it came up well so I guess the 2022 seed date didn't matter.

However, I seeded it indoors a little over a month ago.  They're still really small even though they're growing well.  Unless you have pretty ideal garden conditions, I can't imagine those teeny-tiny plants wouldn't get lost.  So even with the much longer growing season in South Carolina, you may want to start them now so they're bigger when you plant them out.  Plus, then you won't have to wait until fall to harvest some.

I know nothing about raising rabbits but I can't imagine there aren't easier crops to grow for rabbit feed.

Dianne Justeen wrote:

Jay Angler wrote:I've grown celeriac in the past, but not a specific variety. It takes a *long* time to get past baby stage,

I've also grown celeriac.  This year I'm growing "Brilliant' from Johnny's.  I bought it at the end of last year when they had their discounted seed sale, but it came up well so I guess the 2022 seed date didn't matter.

However, I seeded it indoors a little over a month ago.  They're still really small even though they're growing well.  Unless you have pretty ideal garden conditions, I can't imagine those teeny-tiny plants wouldn't get lost.  So even with the much longer growing season in South Carolina, you may want to start them now so they're bigger when you plant them out.  Plus, then you won't have to wait until fall to harvest some.

I know nothing about raising rabbits but I can't imagine there aren't easier crops to grow for rabbit feed.

I was literally about to make a Johnny's order and needed $6 more to get free shipping... hadn't even looked to see if they had caleric; most of what they have is pretty "copy/paste American gardener"... So glad you mentioned this, thank you.

Also: we already have comfrey, tree lucern, kudzu & dandelions going in their colony, just trying to get things we can eat and give the scraps to the cute, sweet, delicious little wabbits.

Chris Vee wrote:

Dianne Justeen wrote:

Jay Angler wrote:I've grown celeriac in the past, but not a specific variety. It takes a *long* time to get past baby stage,

I've also grown celeriac.  This year I'm growing "Brilliant' from Johnny's.  I bought it at the end of last year when they had their discounted seed sale, but it came up well so I guess the 2022 seed date didn't matter.

However, I seeded it indoors a little over a month ago.  They're still really small even though they're growing well.  Unless you have pretty ideal garden conditions, I can't imagine those teeny-tiny plants wouldn't get lost.  So even with the much longer growing season in South Carolina, you may want to start them now so they're bigger when you plant them out.  Plus, then you won't have to wait until fall to harvest some.

I know nothing about raising rabbits but I can't imagine there aren't easier crops to grow for rabbit feed.

I was literally about to make a Johnny's order and needed $6 more to get free shipping... hadn't even looked to see if they had caleric; most of what they have is pretty "copy/paste American gardener"... So glad you mentioned this, thank you.

Also: we already have comfrey, tree lucern, kudzu & dandelions going in their colony, just trying to get things we can eat and give the scraps to the cute, sweet, delicious little wabbits.

I see your comfrey and kudzu, but raise you a sweet potato. That's one more that should grow like a weed there in SC with near zero effort on your part while producing lots of tasty greens for the bunnies. Anything you need to keep in check with a machete, but is mild and edible, is probably a good bet ;)  Even better when you get delicious tubers at the end of the season!

I'm trying celeriac this year too.  I've tried it in the past and can't even remember when or if it grew.  I hear it stores in a root cellar pretty well.  Something to replace buying celery in the middle of winter, I hope.  My seeds should arrive soon.  I'm thankful you gave me the hint to start them now.  Thanks.