VegetableKohlrabi
Kohlrabi
This hardy cool-season gem produces tender, turnip-like swollen stems that taste like a cross between cabbage and broccoli stems, but sweeter and more delicate. First introduced to American gardens just before the Civil War, kohlrabi has proven its worth over more than 150 years of cultivation. Growing 9-12 inches tall and wide, it thrives in zones 2-11 and can be harvested in just 50-59 days when the edible stem reaches 2-3 inches across.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
12 in
Width
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
12in H x 12in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The magic of kohlrabi lies in its versatility and speed. While most gardeners focus on the crisp, sweet bulbous stem that develops just above soil level, the young leaves make excellent salad greens or can be steamed like turnip greens. This light green variety is slightly smaller but faster-growing than its purple cousin, making it perfect for succession planting every 2-3 weeks. Rich in vitamin C, dietary fiber, and essential minerals, kohlrabi delivers both nutrition and unique flavor to your harvest basket.
Common Uses
Kohlrabi's crisp, sweet stem can be enjoyed raw in salads, vegetable platters, or coleslaw, where its mild cabbage-broccoli flavor adds interesting texture and taste. When cooked, it can be steamed, baked, or boiled until tender. The young leaves shouldn't be overlooked, as they make excellent salad greens when small or can be steamed like turnip greens for a nutritious side dish.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
For spring planting, sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. For fall harvest, start seeds indoors around July 1.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings to the garden 2 weeks before the last spring frost date for spring crops, or in mid-August for fall harvest. Space plants 4-6 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.
Direct Sow
Seeds can be sown directly in the garden about 2 weeks prior to the last frost date for spring planting.
Harvesting
Harvest kohlrabi when the bulbous stem reaches 2-3 inches in diameter for the best tender, sweet flavor. The stem becomes tough and woody if allowed to grow beyond 3 inches across. Young leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season for fresh eating or cooking. For winter storage, remove the rootlets and leaves before storing.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Bloom Time
Rarely Flowers
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Kohlrabi made its American debut sometime just before the Civil War, bringing German garden traditions to New World soil. By 1884, three distinct varieties had earned their place in the prestigious D.M. Ferry Seed Catalog, cementing kohlrabi's reputation among serious gardeners. The name itself tells the story of its heritage, combining the German words kohl meaning cabbage and rabi meaning turnip, perfectly describing this unique member of the brassica family that has stood the test of time through generations of cultivation.”