Kohrabi (Brassica olearcea var. gongylodes) is a member of the Brassica family, also referred to as Cole crops. This relative of the cabbage was first recorded in Europe in 1554 and reached North America by the early 1800s. The taste is sweeter than a turnip and a little milder.
Description
Kohlrabi comes in green or purple. It has a bulb that grows above the ground with stems coming out of it. The flesh is light green.
How to Care for the Kohlrabi
Light
Plant kohlrabi in full sunlight (at least six hours of sunlight a day).
Soil
The soil needs to be well-drained and rich in organic matter. Till the soil to a depth of six inches. Spread three inches of compost over the area and work into the tilled soil. Do not use uncomposted manure because it can contain food-borne illnesses and weed seeds.
Growing From Seeds
If you live where the weather is hot, you can start the seeds indoors four to six weeks before time to plant outside to give the kohlrabi a head start. Sow them in a tray with filled with seed starting mix and lightly cover the seeds. Water the mix and cover the tray with clear plastic wrap. Keep the mix moist and place them in the window or under a grow light. When the seeds germinate, remove the plastic wrap. Thin the seedlings to one every two inches when the kohlrabi has its first true leaves.
Planting
Plant in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked. For fall crops, plant in late summer so that the bulbs will be ready a week or so after the first frost. Plant the seeds 1/4-1/2 inch deep. The seedlings should be thinned two to five inches apart after they have their first true leaves.
Water
Water the kohlrabi enough to keep the soil evenly moist. If the plants do not get enough water, the bulbs will be tough and fibrous. Do not let the soil stay wet as the roots will rot.
Temperature
Kohlrabi is a cool season crop. While it is more heat tolerant than many Cole crops, it will bolt in hot weather. Kohlrabi is frost tolerant and will continue to grow after a frost.
Fertilizer
Before planting the kohlrabi, spread a balanced fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10) over the garden bed. Mix the fertilizer in the first three inches of soil. Water the bed well before planting.
Fertilize once more in midseason with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Spread the fertilizer parallel to the row and six inches from the bulbs. Do not get the fertilizer on the bulbs, or it will burn them. Water the fertilizer in well.
Harvest
Kohrabi gets fibrous and tough when large. Begin harvesting when the bulbs are one inch in diameter and harvest all but the giant varieties when the bulbs are two to three inches in diameter. Harvest the giant varieties when they reach their mature size.
To store, cut off the stems and trim the roots. Store unwashed in sealed plastic bags. Use within several weeks of harvest for best taste.
Pests and Diseases of the Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi get many of the same diseases as cabbage plants, but diseases seldom cause problems in a home garden. Imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, and diamondback moth caterpillars may eat the leaves of the kohlrabi, but you only need to treat them if there are a lot of them. You can usually control them with hand picking, but Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) will also kill the caterpillers.
Kohlrabi is an interesting looking vegetable to try growing. If you can grow turnips, you can probably grow kohlrabi.
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