Cabbage Relative
Delicacy Purple Kohlrabi is a rediscovered brassica that deserves a place in every vegetable garden. Once nearly forgotten, this curious crop has recently found its way back into the hands of gardeners who appreciate its crisp, mildly sweet bulb with a subtle hint of apple. Ready to harvest in just 65 days from transplant, it produces tender, flavor-packed bulbs that shine whether eaten raw or cooked, delivering impressive amounts of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, and manganese in every bite.
10-12 inches apart
Full Sun
High
2-10
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Delicacy Purple apart is its remarkable versatility and nutritional density packed into a fast-growing crop. The bulbs develop a delicate sweetness with an apple-like edge that's far more sophisticated than typical brassicas, and because they mature so quickly, you can succession-plant every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the season. Spring and fall sowings both work beautifully, though fall-grown kohlrabi stays tender and sweet even as it reaches larger sizes, making it the preferred window for extended harvests.
Delicacy Purple Kohlrabi shines in both raw and cooked preparations. The crisp bulb works beautifully sliced thin for salads where its apple-like sweetness and delicate texture make an appearance, or roasted whole to bring out its natural sugars and tender, almost creamy interior. The leaves are also edible and can be prepared like any leafy green, making this a plant that offers multiple harvests from a single sowing.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your transplant date, keeping soil temperatures between 65-75°F. Kohlrabi germinates reliably in this range and develops sturdy transplants quickly.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date, once they've been hardened off over 7-10 days. Days to maturity of 65 days are calculated from the transplant date, so time your planting accordingly.
Direct sow seeds in spring or fall, but avoid May and June sowings. Sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests.
Harvest bulbs when they reach 2-4 inches in diameter for the most tender, delicate flavor. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut the root off at ground level. Spring-sown kohlrabi benefits from earlier harvest at the smaller end of this range, while fall-grown kohlrabi can be allowed to grow larger without becoming woody or bitter, giving you more flexibility in timing. The variety will reach maturity approximately 65 days after transplanting.
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“Kohlrabi belongs to the Gongylodes Group of Brassica oleracea, a vegetable that was once a common sight in gardens across many regions before falling into unfortunate obscurity. The variety Delicacy Purple represents a recent rediscovery of this curious brassica by contemporary gardeners who recognized the value in reviving what earlier generations had taken for granted. This recovery reflects a broader movement to restore lesser-known crops to modern growing practices, bringing back flavors and traditions that had nearly vanished from cultivation.”