You can grow celery from celery root, but it’s not as simple as planting the root and hoping for a full stalk to pop up.
What most people call celery root is actually celeriac, a close relative of celery that’s grown for its knobby bulb rather than its stems.
So if you want to grow celery from celery root, you can absolutely give it a try, but you need to know what you’re actually working with before you get your hands dirty.
In this post, we’ll break down whether you can grow celery from celery root, how celeriac differs from celery, and the best way to actually get celery growing at home.
Let’s dig in.
Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root?
Yes, you can grow celery from celery root, but the results usually aren’t what you expect.
When you plant a celery root, you’re planting celeriac, which is a biennial crop that typically grows leaves and a bulb in its first year and only produces flowers and seeds in its second year.
So if you plant a celery root expecting a crisp bunch of celery stalks, you’ll likely end up disappointed.
Here’s why.
1. Celery Root Is Celeriac, Not Celery
Celery root and celery come from the same species, Apium graveolens, but they’ve been bred for completely different purposes.
Celery is grown for its long, tender petioles, which are the stalks we snap into soups, salads, and snack platters.
Celeriac is grown for its swollen hypocotyl, which is the bulbous root-like part you see at the grocery store.
So when you grow celery from celery root, you’re essentially growing a plant that’s genetically wired to produce a bulb, not a tall bunch of stalks.
2. Celery Root Rarely Produces Stalks
If you plant a celery root in soil and wait, it will sprout leaves and maybe send up some thin, stringy stems.
But those stems are usually tough, hollow, and bitter, nothing like the celery you buy at the store.
That’s because the energy in the celery root is stored for bulb growth and reproduction, not for producing the thick, juicy stalks we love to eat.
So while you can grow celery from celery root, you’re not really growing the celery you think you are.
3. The Root Will Eventually Rot or Bolt
Celery root is a biennial, so it has a natural life cycle that ends in flowering and seed production.
If you plant a celery root and it survives the winter, it will bolt in its second year, sending up a tall flower stalk before the root turns woody and inedible.
In most cases, the root simply rots in the ground before it ever gets that far.
So growing celery from celery root is more of a fun experiment than a reliable way to get a harvest.
How to Actually Grow Celery From Celery
If you want real celery stalks, you’re better off growing celery from seed or from the base of a store-bought bunch.
Here’s how to do it right.
1. Start Celery From the Base
The easiest way to grow celery from celery is to save the bottom two inches of a fresh bunch.
Place that base in a shallow dish of water and set it on a sunny windowsill.
Within a week or two, you’ll see tiny green shoots and roots emerging from the center and bottom.
Once the roots are an inch or two long, you can plant the base in soil and let it grow into a new plant.
This method works because the base already contains the cells needed to produce new stalks.
2. Grow Celery From Seed
Growing celery from seed is slower but gives you the widest variety of options.
Start seeds indoors about 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date.
Celery seeds need light to germinate, so press them into the soil surface without covering them completely.
Keep the soil consistently moist and warm, and you’ll see sprouts in two to three weeks.
Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, harden them off and transplant them into rich, well-drained soil.
3. Give Celery the Right Conditions
Celery is a thirsty, hungry crop that loves cool weather and consistent moisture.
It needs at least six hours of sun a day, plenty of compost, and regular watering so the soil never dries out completely.
Mulch around the plants to lock in moisture and keep the roots cool.
And don’t let the plants dry out, because stressed celery turns stringy and bitter fast.
Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root in Water?
You can try to grow celery from celery root in water, but it’s a short-lived project.
Place the root in a shallow bowl of water with the top exposed and keep it in bright, indirect light.
It will sprout leaves and maybe a few thin stems, but the root will eventually run out of stored energy and start to rot.
So while growing celery from celery root in water is a fun little experiment, it won’t give you a lasting celery plant.
If you want a real harvest, stick with growing celery from the base of a fresh bunch or from seed.
So, Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root?
You can grow celery from celery root, but it won’t give you the crunchy stalks you’re hoping for.
Celery root is celeriac, a different crop bred for its bulb, not its stems.
If you want to grow celery from celery root, treat it as a fun experiment rather than a serious garden project.
For real celery, start from the base of a store-bought bunch or from seed, and give the plants cool weather, rich soil, and plenty of water.
That’s the surest way to grow celery from celery, and it’s a whole lot more rewarding than waiting on a root that was never meant to produce stalks in the first place.