Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root

Yes, you can grow celery from celery root, but there’s a bit of a catch you should know before you grab that old root from your fridge.
 
The celery root you buy at the grocery store is a celeriac, which is a close cousin of the leafy celery you chop into soups and salads.
 
While you can grow celery from celery root in the sense that you can get it to sprout new leaves, those leaves won’t turn into the long, crunchy stalks you might be hoping for.
 
So technically, yes, you can grow celery from celery root, but what you get is more of a leafy green than a full stalk of celery.
 
If you’ve been asking yourself, “Can I grow celery from celery root?” the short answer is yes, but the results are a little different from what you might expect.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into whether you can grow celery from celery root, what actually happens when you try, and the best way to go about it if you want to give it a shot.
 
Let’s get into it.
 

Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root?

You can grow celery from celery root, and it’s actually a pretty fun experiment to try on your kitchen counter.
 
Here’s the thing though: celery root, also called celeriac, isn’t the same as the celery stalks you’re used to buying in bunches.
 
Celery root is grown for its bulbous, knobby base, while regular celery is grown for its long, tender petioles, which are the stalks.
 
So when you try to grow celery from celery root, you’re working with a plant that’s been bred for its root, not its stalks.
 
That means the regrowth you get will mostly be leaves and thin, hollow stems rather than the thick, crisp stalks you’d use for ants on a log.
 
But here’s the good news: you can absolutely grow celery from celery root if you’re just looking for some fresh, celery-flavored greens to toss into soups, stews, or salads.
 
The leaves taste just like celery, and they’re perfect for adding a punch of flavor to your cooking.
 
So while you can grow celery from celery root, it’s more about enjoying the greenery than harvesting a full head of stalks.
 

How to Grow Celery From Celery Root

If you want to try your hand at growing celery from celery root, the process is simple and surprisingly rewarding.
 
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
 

1. Start With a Fresh, Healthy Root

The first step in growing celery from celery root is picking the right root.
 
Choose a firm, healthy celeriac with no soft spots, mold, or signs of rot.
 
Ideally, you want one that still has a bit of the top and some root hairs intact, because that’s where new growth will emerge.
 
If the root is too old or mushy, you won’t have much luck growing celery from celery root.
 

2. Cut the Top Off and Save It

To grow celery from celery root, you don’t need the whole root.
 
Cut off the top inch or so of the celeriac, making sure it includes the crown where the stems and leaves used to be.
 
You can use the rest of the root for cooking, which is a nice bonus.
 
This top piece is what you’ll use to grow celery from celery root.
 

3. Place It in Water or Soil

You can grow celery from celery root in either water or soil.
 
For water, just place the cut side down in a shallow dish of water, making sure the top is above the waterline.
 
Put it in a sunny window and change the water every couple of days.
 
Within a week or two, you’ll start to see new leaves sprouting from the top.
 
If you prefer soil, plant the cut piece in a pot with moist, well-draining potting mix, leaving the top exposed.
 
Keep the soil consistently damp and place it in bright, indirect light.
 

4. Give It Plenty of Light and Water

Whether you grow celery from celery root in water or soil, light and moisture are key.
 
Celery loves cool weather and plenty of sunshine, so a sunny windowsill or a spot in your garden with partial shade works well.
 
Keep the soil or water consistently moist, but don’t let the roots sit in soggy, stagnant water, or they’ll rot.
 
If you’re growing in soil, water whenever the top inch feels dry.
 

5. Harvest the Leaves, Not the Stalks

When you grow celery from celery root, you’ll notice that the new growth looks more like leafy greens than thick stalks.
 
That’s totally normal.
 
You can start snipping off the outer leaves once they’re a few inches tall.
 
Use them fresh in salads, soups, or as a garnish.
 
Just don’t expect to get a full bunch of celery stalks from this method, because that’s not how celeriac grows.
 

Why Growing Celery From Celery Root Isn’t the Same as Growing Stalks

The reason you can grow celery from celery root but not get stalks comes down to plant biology.
 
Celery root, or celeriac, is a different variety of the same species, Apium graveolens.
 
It’s been selectively bred for its enlarged hypocotyl, which is the bulbous base you see at the store.
 
Regular celery, on the other hand, has been bred for its long, tender leaf stalks.
 
When you grow celery from celery root, the plant’s genetics are still geared toward producing a bulb and leaves, not tall stalks.
 
So even though you can grow celery from celery root, the plant will always revert to its leafy, root-forming nature.
 
That’s why the stalks you get are thin and hollow, and the leaves are the real prize.
 

So, Can You Grow Celery From Celery Root?

Yes, you can grow celery from celery root, and it’s a fun, low-cost way to get fresh, celery-flavored greens right from your kitchen.
 
Just remember that you’re growing celeriac, not traditional stalk celery, so the results will be leafy rather than crunchy.
 
If you’re okay with that, then growing celery from celery root is absolutely worth a try.
 
Grab a root, cut the top off, and give it a shot.
 
You might be surprised at how much greenery you can get from a humble celeriac.