How to Grow and Harvest Kohlrabi - A Beginner's Guide To Gardening

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This lesser known veggie is in the cabbage family (Brassicaceae) and while looking somewhat alien, tastes great in a wide variety of dishes. 

Planting

For starters, you can plant seeds or transplant live plants. Kohlrabi is a full sun plant, but actually grows best through filtered sunlight (think through tree leaves or near taller plants). It also prefers lighter, well draining soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5, but can be grown in heavy clays or sands with adjusted watering.

Seed

Direct sow when soil becomes workable, in mid April or early May, spaced at 1" and cover with 1/4" soil. When seedlings emerge, thin to 4" spacing. Plant second crop in mid July following same planting procedures.

If you choose to start indoors to speed summer production, plant 6 weeks before transplanting. Kohlrabi thrives in lower temps (60 -70 F). Harden off before transplanting outdoors. 




Growing

Mulching will help keep weeds to a minimum. Use a hose to remove weeds, but use caution to avoid disturbing small leaves at first. Plants will grow hearty with time and large leaves will keep weeds down without much help. Keep soil moist by watering regularly. If you use grass clippings, avoid spraying herbicide on lawn as this may kill garden plants mulched with lawn clippings. 

Kohlrabi is best planted next to onions, mint, beets, mustard family plants, or cucumbers. AVOID planting near strawberries, tomatoes, fennel or beans.

Pests

Flea beetles, cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, and diamondback moths all feed on leaves. Cabbage maggots feed on roots. Practice companion planting to reduce pests. Mint can discourage cabbage pests.

Practice crop rotation to minimize diseases. Keep weeds to a minimum. 

Harvest

Harvest when kohlrabi is 2-3" wide. Larger kohlrabi will become tougher and more bitter. Harvest by cutting root below bulb with garden shears.


Storing

Kohlrabi can be stored for months in cool conditions (36 F) with high humidity. If stored in refrigerator, use within 2 weeks.

If unable to use within 2 weeks or find ideal storage conditions, peel and freeze kohlrabi for future use. 

For great recipe ideas view Thrifty Cooking posts.


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