How do kohlrabi grow

Photo by GrowVeg. Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Kohlrabi. By The Editors. When to Plant Kohlrabi Kohlrabi is a cool-season crop, so it is best grown in the cooler weather of spring or fall. In warmer regions such as the southern U. For an early to mid-summer harvest, sow kohlrabi seeds indoors in early spring, 6 to 8 weeks prior to your last spring frost date. Stagger plantings every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous harvest.

Harden off seedlings before planting outdoors, too. For a fall or winter harvest, sow seeds outdoors in mid- to late summer. Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site Plant in full sun.

Nutrient-rich, well-draining soil will produce the best results. Tip: Because it can be grown in shallower soils, kohlrabi is a great alternative to turnips or rutabagas. Soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral 6. Avoid planting kohlrabi where other vegetables in the Brassica family have been grown in the previous 2 or 3 years. This helps to prevent the spread of disease and nutrient deficiencies.

Learn more. Kohlrabi prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun. You can plant this cool-season crop for a spring or fall harvest in the North, or for a winter harvest in the South. For a spring crop plant the seeds outside after danger of a hard frost: sow in midsummer for a fall crop, or in fall for a winter crop.

Space rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin the seedlings to 4 inches apart when they are large enough to handle. You can also grow kohlrabi in containers. This relative of kale and cabbage has a flavor similar to turnips. It is grown for its bulblike stem, which grows above the ground. Leaves are covered in small holes and damaged areas turn brown.

Seedlings are particularly susceptible. Grow plants under horticultural fleece and keep the soil moist. Water in nitrogen-rich fertilser to help the crop outgrow the pest. Roots become swollen and distorted, and leaves become pale and yellow and wilt easily.

Plants may die. Harvest kohl rabi when young, between golf ball and tennis ball size. If you leave them too long they lose their flavour and tenderness. With repeated sowings, plants can be harvested from May through to November, and the leaves can also be eaten. Green varieties, sown from mid-spring, are ready in summer, while hardier purple varieties, sown in summer, provide autumn crops. Buy now. Take action Why take action? Support us Donate Careers Commercial opportunities Leave a legacy.

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