Purple Variety
Azur Star is Johnny's Selected Seeds' finest open-pollinated purple kohlrabi, a cool-season brassica that reaches harvest-ready size in just 48 days from transplants. This compact bush variety produces the deep blue-purple globes that make it visually striking in both garden and kitchen, with a tender, sweet interior that develops best in mild weather. The open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed year after year, making this a reliable choice for gardeners who value self-sufficiency alongside flavor.
8-12 inches apart
—
Moderate
2-10
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Azur Star apart is its speed to maturity combined with that distinctive purple coloring and Johnny's reputation for selecting the absolute best open-pollinated stock. At 48 days from transplant, you're harvesting before many other varieties hit their stride. The emphasis on rapid growth through proper soil management actually improves the sweetness of the crop, so this isn't just a fast kohlrabi, it's a fast kohlrabi that tastes noticeably better than rushed varieties.
Kohlrabi is prized for its tender, mild stem, the swollen globe you harvest, which can be eaten raw when very young with a crisp, slightly sweet character, or roasted and caramelized to bring out deeper sweetness. The leaves are equally edible and nutritious, useful in stir-fries or as cooked greens. Azur Star's rapid maturity makes it ideal for succession planting, allowing you to harvest multiple crops through the season.
Start seeds 4 to 6 weeks before your transplant date. Sow 2 seeds per cell in cell flats (or 3 to 4 seeds per inch in open flats), thinning to 1 plant per cell once they've germinated. This gives you vigorous seedlings ready to move into the garden at the right moment.
Transplant seedlings 4 to 5 inches apart once they've developed their first true leaves and the soil has warmed slightly. Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before planting out, gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions to prevent transplant shock.
Azur Star reaches peak tenderness when the bulbs are about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, roughly 48 days from transplanting. Harvest by cutting the stem just below the globe with a sharp knife, or gently pull the entire plant if you want the leaves as well. Smaller bulbs will be sweeter and more tender than larger ones, so don't wait for them to grow beyond 3 inches if you prefer that delicate texture. You can also harvest the leaves anytime during growth for use as greens.
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