{"id":2337,"date":"2020-03-24T23:16:55","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T23:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2020-03-24T23:28:39","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T23:28:39","slug":"kohlrabi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/24\/kohlrabi\/","title":{"rendered":"Kohlrabi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brassica<\/em> <\/em>oleracea<\/em> <\/em>var gongylodes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong>: This somewhat bizarre looking vegetable is relatively rare in\nAmerican gardens and kitchens; in fact many people wouldn\u2019t even recognise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The edible part of the kohlrabi is not a root, though people\nusually assume it is. It is actually the swollen above-ground portion of the\nstem, and is very much like a fat juicy broccoli stem. It is sometimes said to\nbe a cross between a cabbage and a turnip, but that is just because it seems\nlike one. More likely it was developed from a thick stemmed forage cabbage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohlrabi (the name is German and translates as cabbage turnip) was\ndeveloped in Italy or Germany around 500 years ago. It is still most popular\nthere, so hasn\u2019t really spread very much, though it is now popular in parts of Asia too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate<\/strong>: Like all Brassicas this is a cool season\nplant, preferring to grow in temperatures of 60 – 70\u00b0F. In cool climates it can\nbe grown all summer, but in warmer ones it must be grown in spring and fall (it\ngrows best in the latter). It is quite hardy and can stand moderate frost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ease of growing<\/strong>: <\/strong>Kohlrabi is a very useful\ncrop, tasty, fast growing, compact, nutritious and slightly more tolerant of\nwarm weather than most Brassicas. Much that has been said about cabbage also\napplies to kohlrabi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crop value<\/strong>: Some people (those who are most familiar with it) consider\nkohlrabi to be the best tasting of all the Brassicas and prize it very highly\n(they also recommend it as a good plant for children to grow). Individual\nplants don\u2019t produce much food, so you need to have quite a few of them to make\nit worthwhile. Fortunately it doesn\u2019t require a lot of space and matures pretty quickly (60 days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutritional content<\/strong>: This is much the same as cabbage, which means high vitamins A\nand C, folate, potassium, calcium and lots of antioxidants. It contains about\n120 calories per pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

pH 6.0 – 7.0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To grow to perfection, kohlrabi needs a\nlight, rich, moisture retentive soil, with lots of organic matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil preparation<\/strong>: Incorporate 2\u02dd of compost or aged manure into the top 6\u02dd of soil\n(you could add fresh manure the previous fall), along with a fertilizer mix. It\nis a light feeding crop and doesn\u2019t need a lot of nitrogen, but it does like\npotassium (add greensand or wood ashes). It also likes calcium and a fairly\nneutral pH, so lime if necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where<\/strong>: Kohlrabi grows best in full sun,\nthough it will tolerate light shade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crop rotation<\/strong>: Kohlrabi should not be planted where any other <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brassica has grown in the previous 3 years, as this can lead to\ndisease or pest\nproblems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When<\/strong>: Like most Brassicas, kohlrabi grows best in the cool (40 – 70\u00b0F)\nweather of spring and fall.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring<\/strong>: Sow the first spring crop 4 – 6 weeks before the last frost date\n(it will grow at 40\u00b0F). The fast maturing types work best in spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall<\/strong>: Kohlrabi generally does better as a fall crop, sown 6 – 8 weeks\nbefore the first fall frost date. Autumn kohlrabi can be allowed to get larger\nthan 2 – 3\u02dd, because cold weather seems to keep them tender for longer (it also\nincreases their sweetness). Any type can be used at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Kohlrabi<\/strong>  
Seed facts<\/strong>
Germ temp: 40 (45 – 95) 100\u00b0F
Germ time: 3 – 10 days
15 days \/ 50\u00b0F
9 days \/ 59\u00b0F
6 days \/ 68\u00b0F
5 days \/ 77\u00b0F * Optimum
4 days \/ 86\u00b0F
Seed viability: 4 years
Germination percentage: 75%+
Weeks to grow transplant: 5 – 6  

Planning facts<\/strong>
Hardiness: Half hardy
Growing temp: 40 (60 – 65) 75\u00b0F
Plants per person: 10
Plants per sq ft: 4  

Planting<\/strong>:
Start indoors: 6 – 8 wks before last frost
Plant out 2 – 4 wks before last frost
Direct sow: 4 – 6 wks before last frost
Fall sow: 6 – 8 weeks before first fall frost  
Harvest facts<\/strong>
Days to harvest: 55 – 90 days
30 – 40 days from transplanting
Yield per sq ft: 1\u00bd
Yield per plant: 6 oz   <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Succession sowing<\/strong>: In spring you can make several succession sowings, 2 – 3 weeks\napart (very early sowings may be vernalized and bolt). In cool climates you can\ncontinue to succession sow all summer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most Brassicas it can be either transplanted or direct sown,\nboth work well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transplants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting inside<\/strong>: Kohlrabi is such a fast growing crop, that starting indoors is\nprobably only worthwhile if your growing season is very short, or if space is\nlimited. Sow the seeds 3 – 4 weeks before planting out. It doesn\u2019t really like\ntransplanting so it\u2019s best to use cell packs, soil blocks or plug trays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting out<\/strong>: Transplant the seedlings outside 2 – 4 weeks before the last\nfrost date. Plant them to the depth of their first true leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Direct sowing<\/strong>: Kohlrabi is usually direct sown, Sow the seed \u00bc\u02dd deep in rows or\nbroadcast it and cover with a thin layer of cover soil. Sow quite thickly\ninitially and thin when they are around 4\u02dd high (eat the thinnings). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spacing<\/strong>: Make sure the plants aren\u2019t crowded, or they won\u2019t size up\nproperly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beds<\/strong>: Plant kohlrabi in offset rows across the bed, 4\u02dd – 6\u02dd – 8\u02dd apart\n(the exact distance depends upon the fertility of the soil). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rows<\/strong>: When growing in rows plant 1\u02dd apart initially and slowly thin to\n4 – 6\u02dd apart. Space the rows 12 – 18\u02dd apart.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohlrabi must grow fast for best quality, so give the plants all\nthe water and nutrients they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinning<\/strong>: It is important to thin (and weed) the plants properly, so they\nhave enough room. If they are crowded they won\u2019t bulb up properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weeds<\/strong>: Control weeds by hand weeding, as hoeing can easily damage the\nshallow roots and swollen stems. A mulch will help to suppress weeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water<\/strong>: Keep the soil evenly moist, or the bulbous stems may turn woody.\nFortunately this isn\u2019t often an issue with this cool weather crop. The plants\nhave their greatest need for water when the bulbs are forming, so make sure you\nkeep the soil moist at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulch<\/strong>: This is helpful to keep the soil moist and to suppress weeds\n(the leaves are fairly sparse and don\u2019t create a lot of shade).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fertilization<\/strong>: If the soil isn\u2019t very fertile, you should give the plants a\nfeed of liquid kelp or compost tea every 2 – 3 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pests<\/strong>: The same pests that attack cabbage also go for kohlrabi, but\nthey aren\u2019t usually as bad (See Cabbage<\/strong>). In spring you may have to protect the seedlings from birds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harvesting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When<\/strong>: Start harvesting the bulbous stems when they are 1\u00bd – 2\u02dd in\ndiameter, as they are most tender at this stage. You can eat the larger 3\u02dd\ndiameter roots, but in warm weather they often develop a woody core and their\nflavor deteriorates. In late fall and winter even the larger bulbs can be good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 How<\/strong>: Cut the stem an inch below the bulb, or simply uproot the entire\nplant if they aren\u2019t growing too closely together (don\u2019t disturb neighboring\nplants). For storage you should cut off the leaves and roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage<\/strong>: Kohlrabi stores very well and will keep for several weeks in the\nfridge in a plastic bag. It may last for several months in a root cellar at 32\n– 40\u00b0F and 90%+ humidity.\nIt also freezes well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seed saving<\/strong>: This is the same as for cabbage. In very cold climates you may\nhave to lift the plants in fall (keep their roots intact) and store them in\nmoist sand in a root cellar over the winter. Replant them in early spring, somewhere they won\u2019t be in the\nway<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unusual growing ideas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intercrop<\/strong>: This compact and fast growing plant can be very useful for intercropping\nbetween slower growing plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Varieties<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up until recently there weren\u2019t many varieties available in this\ncountry, but now new ones are appearing all the time, including a lot of\nhybrids from Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green\nVienna<\/strong> (better flavored)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple\nVienna<\/strong> (hardier)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early\nWhite Vienna<\/strong> (what\u2019s this with Vienna?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gigante<\/strong> (Superschmeltz): Can get very big without getting woody and\ntolerates low temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eder\nF1<\/strong>: Fast growing (only 38 days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner<\/strong>: Exceptional flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kossack<\/strong>: Stores well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kitchen use<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bulbous stem is good cooked, but is also mild enough to be\neaten raw (sliced or grated) in salads. The thick skin is usually peeled off,\nthough if the root is small and tender it may be eaten. The young leaves can be\nused like kale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brassica oleracea var gongylodes Introduction: This somewhat bizarre looking vegetable is relatively rare in American gardens and kitchens; in fact many people wouldn\u2019t even recognise it. The edible part of … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bulb-and-stem-vegetables","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kohlrabi.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2337"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2340,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2337\/revisions\/2340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenmanpublishing.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}