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A picture of a Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea (Gongylodes Group)

Koolrabi (Brassica oleracea convar. acephala alef. var. gongylodes) by Rasbak (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Full Sun
Moderate care
Moderate watering
Half-hardy

7a-9b

USDA zone

-18°C

Minimum temperature

Expected size

Height
Spread

40cm

Max

50cm

20cm

Min

20cm

2 years to reach maturity

Flowering

  • spring
  • summer
  • autumn
  • winter

This plant has a strong fragrance

More images of Kohlrabi

A colourful purple stem of a Kohlrabi vegetable.
A close-up of the green leaves of a white stemmed Kohlrabi plant.
A bunch of purple stems of Kohlrabi vegetables.
A close-up of the flowering stem of a kohlrabi plant showing its yellow flowers.
A close-up of the green leaves and white stem of a Kohlrabi plant growing in a vegetable bed.

Kohlrabi Overview

Kohlrabi from the German for cabbage turnip is a low growing cultivar of the wild cabbage. This artificially selected subspecies has been grown for its round swollen stem that has the texture and taste of broccoli but with less skin and more flesh. The green varieties are grown from mid-spring for summer crops, with the hardier purple varieties grown from mid-summer for autumn and winter crops. Spring cultivars are best harvested before they get over 5cm with summer grown varieties harvested before they reach 10cm in diameter. Commonly available green varieties are 'Kossak', 'Korist', 'White Vienna', 'Olivia', 'Quickstar', 'Terek', 'Winner' and the extra large variety 'Gigant'. Purple varieties are 'Kolibri', 'Azur Star', 'Purple Vienna', and 'Modrava'

Common problems with Kohlrabi

Birds can also damage young plants - netting crops to protect young plants.

Kohlrabi Companion Plants

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Cucumis sativus

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Lactuca sativa

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Solanum tuberosum

How to harvest Kohlrabi

Harvest when young (within 8 - 10 weeks) from Summer through until late Autumn. Cut from the base of the plant and remove the swollen stem. Cut the leafy tops off and discard them. Two distinct fibrous layers surround the stems. These are peeled away, revealing the more palatable inner heart that can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves can also be harvested and eaten like collard greens and kale. To collect seeds, leave a plant to overwinter and produce a flower stem in its second year.

How to propagate Kohlrabi

Seed

Direct sow 1cm (0.5") deep, in rows 30cm (12") apart. Thin seedlings when the first true leaves appear or they are 2.5cm (1"). In cooler areas, seeds can be sown into modules undercover and planted out once the ground has warmed up. Space plants 15cm (6") apart. Make sowings every 3 weeks throughout the growing seasons to ensure a continuous crop.

Special features of Kohlrabi

Crop rotation

Crop in different locations each year to help prevent the build-up of P&D's Grow with other Brassicas the year after legumes and follow with potatoes.

Other uses of Kohlrabi

Culinary

Edible

The swollen basal stem is edible raw or cooked and has a sweetness to it.

Edibles to Plant Out in July

Young plants started off indoors can now be planted out.

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Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica (Italica Group)

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Broccoli 'Green Sprouting'

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Broccoli 'Purple Sprouting'

Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Early Purple Sprouting'

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Edibles to Sow Outdoors in March

If the soil is warm enough, get an early start on the growing year by direct sowing these into prepared beds.

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