Early White Vienna kohlrabi is a pre-1860 heirloom that produces pale green bulbs with sweet, white flesh just 55 days from seed. Known by its German-inspired nickname "Petra," this variety creates tender, turnip-sized stems that grow above ground and taste sweeter and creamier than cabbage. Hardy across zones 3-10, it thrives in cool weather and actually improves in flavor after light frosts, making it perfect for spring and fall gardens.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
—
Width
15 in
Spacing
50–59
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This swift-growing heirloom delivers the unusual combination of cabbage family hardiness with turnip-like sweetness, ready for harvest weeks before Purple Vienna. The entire plant is edible, from the tender bulbs perfect for raw eating or cooking to the large leaves that substitute beautifully for spinach. Its ability to improve in flavor after frost makes it a reliable cool-season staple that gardeners have treasured for over 160 years.
Common Uses
The bulbs shine both raw and cooked, adding crisp sweetness to fresh salads when peeled and sliced thin, or developing rich, creamy textures when baked, blanched, or pickled. The large leaves serve as an excellent spinach substitute in cooking, while the tender stems can be harvested young for the mildest flavor. Many gardeners prize it as a fresh eating vegetable that stores well through winter months.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Non-blooming
First Harvest
50-60 Days After Sowing
Last Harvest
Late Spring To Early Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date, planting 3-4 seeds per cell 1/2 inch deep. Seeds germinate in 3-10 days at temperatures between 45-80°F.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings when they are 4-6 weeks old and have been properly hardened off, after soil temperatures reach at least 45°F.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep starting 2 weeks before the last spring frost, or plant in early fall 2-4 weeks before the first autumn frost. Sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Harvesting
Harvest when bulbs reach 2-3 inches in diameter, typically around 55-60 days from planting. Cut at the base with a sharp knife and trim off the leaves before storing. Harvest while young for the best flavor, as bulbs larger than 3 inches become woody, bitter, and unpalatable. The greens can be harvested separately and used like kale or collards.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Early White Vienna kohlrabi arrived in America sometime before the Civil War, establishing itself as a reliable cool-weather crop for American gardeners. By 1884, three kohlrabi varieties including this one appeared in the D.M. Ferry Seed Catalog, cementing its place in American seed culture. This pre-1860 heirloom has stood the test of time, proving its worth to generations of gardeners who appreciated both its reliability and the fact that every part of the plant could feed their families.”