🌱 Sowing & planting
Kohlrabi ( Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes ) is a fast-growing cabbage variety where the thickened stem is harvested as a tuber. You can grow the crop from the early spring to late autumn.
- Sowing depth: approximately 1.25 cm.
- Sowing method: usually pre-sow in pots or trays.
- Germination temperature: 15–20 °C.
- Germination time: 🕒 7–10 days.
- Sowing distance (pre-sowing): in pots of approx. 8 cm.
- Planting distance: approx. 30 cm around the plant in open ground.
- Growth cycle: approximately 110 days from sowing to harvest.
- Plant out: when there are 2–4 true leaves.
📅 Growing times throughout the year
- Early cultivation: sow indoors late February–mid March or under glass late March–early April; harvest from late May to early July.
- Summer cultivation: sow under glass from mid-April to mid-June; harvest from July to early September.
- Autumn cultivation (open ground): sow outdoors from mid-June to mid-July; harvest in September and October.
- Autumn cultivation under glass: sow outdoors end of July–mid August, harvest under glass from mid-October to early December.
Too low temperatures during cultivation can cause kohlrabi to bolt. Autumn cultivation (warmer sowing and growing season) is therefore the easiest.
Start cultivation (sowing)
Harvesting
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT
NOV DEC
Early cultivation
Summer cultivation
Autumn cultivation (open ground)
Autumn cultivation under glass
Popular breeds
Basic information about kohlrabi
- Crop group: cabbage crop.
- Crop family: Cruciferous family.
- Height: about 30–45 cm.
- Root system: 30–45 cm deep.
- Frost resistance: not frost resistant.
- Preferred soil: well-drained, humus-rich soil with pH 6.0–6.8.
- Fertilization: compost Work in well before cultivation; otherwise, average fertilization is sufficient.
Location & water requirements
- Sun: 🌞 Lots of sun, with adequate ventilation.
- Water: 💧💧💧 high water requirement – too little water causes cracks and a Fibrous tuber. Keep the soil evenly moist.
Companion vegetables
✅ Good neighbors
- Salad
- Onion
- Aromatic herbs
- Beetroot
❌ Bad neighbors
- No known particularly bad neighbours.
Dangers & Concerns
- Too low temperatures during cultivation can cause bolting.
- Too little water causes cracks and a fibrous structure of the tuber.
🧺 Harvesting & storing
Cut the bulb just above the ground. Do not harvest too late, otherwise the kohlrabi will Fibrous and prone to cracking. Smaller, firmer tubers are tastiest.
Nutritional value per 100 g (cooked, without salt)
- 29 kcal
- 0 g fat
- 7 g carbohydrates
- 2 g protein
- 1 g fiber
- 3 g sugar
- Vitamin B6 and C
- Magnesium , phosphorus , copper, potassium, folic acid and manganese.
