Kohlrabi is a flowering plant and a member of the cabbage family. The name Kohlrabi comes from two German words: Kohl and Rube. While cabbage means cabbage, rube means turnip. The name literally means "turnip" in German! Today we are discussing about growing kohlrabi in your own garden.
Kohlrabi comes from north-western Europe. Today, however, this strange looking plant can be found all over the world. It is grown as a food source and is high in vitamins C and B. It is also an excellent source of minerals, especially copper, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. The number of calories is low at just 27 calories per 100 grams of raw kohlrabi.
Fresh and young kohlrabi has a sweet taste and a juicy, crispy texture. The taste profile is similar to a mixture of cabbage and radishes. The onion, stems, and leaves can all be eaten, although the skin is somewhat tough and is generally removed. It can be consumed raw or used in salads, soups or meat dishes.
These strange, bizarre vegetables may not look like anything else we normally eat, but that's part of their charm. White, purple, or green, it will definitely be an unusual addition to your garden beds … and a delicious one too. So let's talk about how to grow kohlrabi so that you can enjoy this unusual brassica in your garden and kitchen!
Good products for growing kohlrabi:
Brief instructions for care
If you like an unusual edible plant, consider growing kohlrabi. Source: osiristhe
| Common Name (s) | German turpin, turnip, kohlrabi, su hào, kalerab |
| Scientific name | Brassica oleracea, Gongylodes group |
| Days to harvest | 55 to 60 days after sowing |
| light | Full sun, at least 6 hours a day |
| Water: | Even soil moisture, about 1 inch per week |
| ground | Rich, well-tilled, well-drained soil with a high organic content |
| fertilizer | Composted cow dung, 10-5-5 fertilizer |
| Pests | Cabbage aphids, beet worms, cabbage worms, cabbage grinders, cut worms, flea beetles |
| Diseases | Alternaria leaf spot, black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew |
Everything about kohlrabi
The kohlrabi plant is a strange, alien looking thing. Source: das_butzele
The botanical name of kohlrabi is Brassica oleracea and belongs to the Gongylodes group. If this seems like a sip, you can just call it by its common name kohlrabi. It has a variety of names in other languages, from su hào in northern Japan to kedluben in the Czech Republic. But while the names are unusual, so is the plant itself!
Are you wondering what a kohlrabi looks like? Then you've come to the right place. Kohlrabi has a broad, rounded onion with protruding stems. These stems can reach 6 to 18 inches in height depending on the variety. Large, cabbage-like leaves with long petioles and wavy edges cover each stem. The plant also produces flowers that are generally white or yellow. The flowers bloom in clusters on the flower stalks.
As would be expected, this strange looking garden plant is harvested for food. Kohlrabi is not a root vegetable as all servings are edible, but the onion is the most common culinary use. While the vegetable is enjoyed all over the world, Russia, China, India, and Korea are major producing countries.
If you want to plant kohlrabi in your vegetable garden, choose from varieties such as Weißes Wien, Großherzog, Gigante or Superschmelz, Purple Kohlrabi and White Danube. They all vary slightly in the outside color, but the inside flesh is white for all kohlrabi varieties.
Plant kohlrabi
Kohlrabi skin can be green, white, or purple. Source: Mariam
Are you trying to figure out the best way to grow kohlrabi? The first step is planning the best start for the plant. After all, if planted in the wrong place or at the wrong time, it won't grow well!
Kohlrabi plants are good for cool weather. The best time to plant kohlrabi seeds is 3 to 4 weeks before the predicted date for the last spring frost, or earlier if you start them indoors. These vegetables take 45 to 60 days to ripen. Because kohlrabi can survive an early frost, residents with warm climates can plant seeds in late summer or early fall for a harvest in cool fall weather. Warm places like Southern California can grow kohlrabi all winter!
Sow the seeds directly into the ground or start transplanting them indoors. Live kohlrabi plants should be planted in the garden just before the final frost date. Therefore, start curing them to the outside temperatures in advance. Your seedlings should be four to six weeks old at the time of transplant for best results.
Choose a spot with full sun for your kohlrabi. While kohlrabi can be grown in containers, it may require more watering and fertilizing. So keep that in mind. We recommend growing yours in raised beds with fertile, well-drained soil.
The traditional spacing for growing kohlrabi is 9 to 12 inches, in rows that are at least the same distance apart. However, square foot gardeners are known to use intense kohlrabi plant spacing with up to nine plants per square foot. This usually only leaves about 3 inches of space between each plant, but it can really add to the amount you can plant.
But now that we've talked about kohlrabi spacing, how to plant to cover it is also important. For sowing kohlrabi seeds, plant ¼ inch deep and lightly dust with soil. Once they are sprouted, thin them down to your preferred spacing by cutting off any excess sprouts with pruning shears.
Growing kohlrabi from transplants starts out similarly, but once you have 4-6 week old kohlrabi transplants you can place them in the garden after they have hardened. Plant at the same depth that they were in their pot. Avoid collecting soil even a few centimeters deep around the base of the tuber. In these plants, their bulb actually forms above ground, only their cabbage-like roots below. Place in your preferred kohlrabi spacing as described above.
maintenance
All parts of the kohlrabi are edible, from the leaves to the base of the tuber. Source: Chris and Jenni
Now that we've gotten into planting, you will be wondering how to grow kohlrabi for the best results. Let's talk about items like your garden soil and other important factors for good growth!
Sun and temperature
These plants need full sun … the more, the better. Make sure you choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of full sunlight every day. The ideal temperature range for growing kohlrabi is between 4.4 ° C and 23.9 ° C.
The plant is sensitive to heat, and conditions that are too warm can cause the bulb to become woody. Make sure the temperature is no higher than 23.9 ° C during harvest time for the top flavor. Kohlrabi can be grown in USDA growing areas 3 through 10.
Irrigation and humidity
When growing kohlrabi, keep in mind that these plants need a lot of moisture to feed those bulbs, stems, and leaves. Always keep the soil moist and apply more water when the first inch of the soil dries out. A drinking hose is ideal for watering your kohlrabi plants.
An inch of water per week is recommended, but if the weather rains you can skip watering as nature will handle it.
ground
Kohlrabi needs fertile and well-drained soil in order to grow and produce healthy stems, leaves, and its tuber base. Mulch the soil with plenty of organic matter for extra nutrition and water absorption. Loose, well-tilled soil is best for your kohlrabies to really shine!
The ideal soil pH for growing kohlrabi is between 6.0 and 6.8.
Fertilize
Fertilizing kohlrabi is a little tricky as it is heavy feed. Start with rich soil first and dress in well-rotten cow dung every few weeks. Alternatively, start with the rich soil, but opt for regular fertilization with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. A 10-5-5 should be enough, but follow the manufacturer's directions for frequency of use.
When growing kohlrabi in containers, regular fertilization is a must as the soil is regularly drained with nutrients. However, they have shallow but large root systems. Therefore, apply your fertilizer in a ring around the plant so that it does not come into contact with the base of the tuber stem. The same goes for fertilizing in the soil, but there is less risk of water washing the fertilizer back against the plant in a normal bed environment.
Liquid fertilizers are also an option, but only if your soil retains the dissolved nutrients. If you have enough organics in the soil, regular use of liquid fertilizers will work.
clipping
No pruning is required when growing kohlrabi other than for harvesting purposes.
Multiplication
Kohlrabi is usually only propagated by seeds. Other methods of propagation just don't result in good, healthy plants. Choose to grow kohlrabi from seeds from a reliable supplier.
Harvesting and storing
A good harvest of kohlrabi. Source: IksWaterbay
The green leaves, long stems, and bulbous base of kohlrabi can all be harvested for food. Growing kohlrabi can be a lot of fun, but also harvesting kohlrabi plants for future meals!
harvest
While we've looked at growing kohlrabi, harvesting them can be a little tricky in comparison as it depends on what you plan on using the plants. Each serving has a slightly different harvest time depending on what purpose it is used for.
For the leaves and stems, you have the option to cut the cultivation methods and use them again. Harvest from the outer parts of the base first and trim the stems neatly with pruning shears to reduce the risk of damaging the bulb. Leave the inner, topmost stems and leaves intact until you are ready to harvest the base as well.
Individual sheets can be cut off if necessary. The stems should be at least the size of your finger or larger, although most crops when the stems are about an inch in diameter.
Once you've grown kohlrabi to 2 to 4 inches in size, it's ready to be harvested. It's not always better to wait for it to get bigger, as more ripe kohlrabi onions tend to become woody as they age. We recommend a good medium size of around 3 inches. To harvest this base, remove all of the plant from the soil, then cut off the ends of the roots. At the time of harvest, trim the leaves and stems flush with the onion.
storage
For optimal storage, place your kohlrabi harvest in a cold, damp place. Ideal conditions would be 95% relative humidity at 0 ° C to 4 ° C (32 ° F to 40 ° F). Since few of us can meet these exact requirements, the best approximation is to put your kohlrabi stems and bottoms in a perforated plastic bag in the sharper drawer of your refrigerator.
The leaves themselves can be left on the stems or removed, but the stems and base will last longer if the leaves are removed. Place your sheets of paper on a long piece of paper towel, then carefully wrap it in a tube. Put the tube with the leaves in its own plastic bag. Use your leaves within a few days for the best freshness.
Stems and bases can be frozen for long-term storage. To do this, wash your kohlrabi and remove the stems from the base. Peel off the tough outer layer of skin. If desired, cut your kohlrabi into ½ inch segments, although it can also be frozen whole. Blanch in boiling water (3 minutes for whole stems / bases, 1 minute for diced pieces) and then immediately transfer to cold water to stop cooking. Drain, pat dry and place on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag.
Troubleshooting
Slight damage can be seen at the base of this kohlrabi. Source: Pictoscribe
While we have looked at growing kohlrabi, there are still a few growing problems you may encounter. Let's consider how to deal with problems that can arise while growing kohlrabi in your garden.
Growing problems
Woody onions can be caused by several problems: underwater, age or hot weather are the most common problems. Make sure your plant has plenty of water, that this plant is not exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time in cold weather, and that you harvest while it is still tender.
Pests
Cabbage aphids will gather on the underside of the leaves and along the stems. Whenever possible, these pesky pests prefer a sheltered location to protect themselves while feeding. A hard jet of water will push them off the plant and they will not be able to get back in without help. For large outbreaks, neem oil or insecticidal soap is effective.
The Beet army worm is a larva that can skeletonize leaves on your kohlrabi as well as other members of the cabbage family. To treat these before they devour your green leaves, apply a layer of Bacillus thuringiensis, which will gradually kill the larvae. While there are some commercially available pesticides that are also effective, BT is usually the best option for the home garden.
Other caterpillars that could attack your kohlrabi include: Cabbage worms, Cabbage grinder, and Cutworms. All of this should also be dealt with with BT. Plucking large caterpillars from the plant and dropping them in soapy water can quickly remove obvious worms if they are detected.
Flea beetle eats a pothole pattern in leaves and can become a nuisance. Neem oil is effective for the home gardener, but dusting the leaves with diatomaceous earth can also help reduce their number.
Diseases
Alternaria leaf spot is a fungal disease that can cause brown or black spots on foliage. The lesions often form rings and become brittle. It is caused by longer periods of rain in colder months. Copper-based fungicides work against this leaf spot.
Black rot is a bacterial disease that is more common in seedlings compared to established plants and can easily be confused with Fusarium. V-shaped lesions may appear on the foliage, turning the leaves brown and yellow until they collapse. Dark circles can also appear in the cross section of the stem. Use healthy seeds, rotate crops every two years, avoid sprinkler irrigation, and maintain good sanitation to avoid this problem.
Both Wrong mildew and mildew are quite common on the leaves of your kohlrabi plants. While these generally don't kill the plant in small amounts, large patches of diseased leaves can cause profuse withering and ruin the edible leaf surfaces. Applications of neem oil are preventative, and copper-based fungicides kill any remaining spores on the plant.
frequently asked Questions
A pile of kohlrabi for sale in a market. Source: adactio
Q: is kohlrabi easy to grow?
A: Kohlrabi is easy to grow in cool weather. Warmer weather can cause problems, especially when paired with moisture. Try to grow these plants during the cooler months of the year.
Q: Does kohlrabi transplant well?
A: Kohlrabi seedlings can be transplanted, but very carefully. Try not to damage the roots to avoid the risk of transplant shock.
Q: is kohlrabi a perennial?
A: Technically, kohlrabi is a biennial plant. For the purpose of eating, these plants are usually grown annual and harvested during that first year.
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