Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. The name means cabbage-turnip, which is a clue to its flavor. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in double rows set 1.5 feet apart. When harvesting, you pull the entire bulb, cut off the root and use the greens and bulb raw or cooked. Some chefs say the purple varieties have a sweeter taste; a few favorite purple options include 'Kolibri', 'Rapid', and 'Purple Vienna'. When and How to Harvest Kohlrabi (Pic source: Pixabay) Kohlrabi plant becomes ready for harvesting within a very short period after planting. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brassica oleracea var. Kohlrabi is a heavy feeder. Kohlrabi originates in the middle east and came to Europe with Crusaders returning from the Holy Land. Know the variety and days to maturity of the variety you are growing. Stacy on Wednesday 17 April 2013 "Kohlrabi does not grow back after it has been cut -- it's a one fell swoop thing. _____ For a spring crop plant the seeds outside after danger of a hard frost: sow in midsummer for a fall crop, or in fall for a winter crop. Plant kohlrabi seeds directly in the garden after the last hard freeze in spring, or plant in fall with enough time to harvest before the first hard freeze. Once harvested, kohlrabi stores well in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, or you can keep it in a cool, moist place for 1-2 months. Care should be taken to avoid damage to the root system. I usually let all the kohlrabi get about the same size, but some will be a bit larger while some are smaller. By continuing to use our site you agree to our How to Harvest Kohlrabi. Avoid overhead irrigation. It's probably best to harvest them when they are 5cm to 8cm wide (about the size of a tennis ball) if the growing conditions are not perfect. Kohlrabi is part of the cabbage family it matures in around 60 days. This vegetable prefers the presence of the full sun, it flourishes very well in rich and well-drained soil. Kohlrabi reaches harvest maturity 45 to 60 days after the seeds germinate. Kohlrabi prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun. The stem should be about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) in diameter, and the bulbs will be big and healthy-looking. The bulbs will keep for a month in the refrigerator. Disclosure. Kohlrabi can be continuously harvested, up until the stems are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm.) You also can freeze kohlrabi! Cabbageworms can be damaging, but they are less attracted to kohlrabi compared to other cabbage family crops. Each kohlrabi plant grows one kohlrabi. For example, giant kohlrabi varieties, which are preferred for the longer fall season, should be seeded with 4-inch spacing and thinned to 12 inches between plants. Harvest kohlrabi when the stem widens to two inches. Kohlrabi is usually ready to be harvested after about 45-60 days. Although kohlrabi isn't a root vegetable, it craves the same kind of growing conditions you would give your carrots or radishes: moist, rich, loam. You are probably wondering how long to wait for kohlrabi harvest. Keep kohlrabi well-watered, which shouldn't be difficult in cool spring or fall soils. Kohlrabi leaves and stems are also edible and can be eaten cooked (like collared greens) or raw. Common Pests and Diseases (and how to manage): Kohlrabi is susceptible to pests such as flea beetles. It doesn’t grow back after you pull it. Can you just take a snap of all the containers you have for growing vegetables and send it to me. Harvest. To start seeds indoors, start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before planting. For many people, kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea) is one of those novelty vegetables you encounter in the produce aisle: It looks interesting but unfamiliar, and you pass it by. Like many cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi grows best in cool weather. You can plant this cool-season crop for a spring or fall harvest in the North, or for a winter harvest in the South. The fruit will become tough and fibrous if allowed to mature too much. Like other cruciferous vegetables, the flavor of kohlrabi is excellent the day of harvest and begins to decline slightly each day thereafter. Fall-harvested kohlrabi can grow a bit bigger without losing quality. Growing Conditions for Kohlrabi. Because this is a fast, early-season vegetable, you may be able to plant it near deciduous trees that haven't leafed out yet. It is grown throughout the season in the North, and during fall and winter in the South. Try not to disturb the plants growing at either side. Harvest kohlrabi plants when the bulbs reach 3 inches in diameter. How to Harvest Kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is ready for harvest 40 to 80 or more days after sowing depending on the variety. It typically needs 1 inch of rain or watering per week. Your growth rates will be slower in warm weather, though, because your plants basically stop growing each time you hit that 75ºF (23.9ºC) marker and take a day or 2 to start up again after that stress. italica Common name Kohlrabi Plant type Vegetable Sun required Full sun Soil Fertile well-drained soil Soil pH 5.5-6.8 Zone 3-10 gongylodes CULTURE: Kohlrabi prefers mild or cool weather. If the bulb gets too large, it will become tough, woody and bitter. Harvesting kohlrabi is very straightforward. Harvesting Kohlrabi is ready to harvest when the stems reach 5 to 7.6 cm (2-3 in) in diameter. Eating For most varieties, allow 50-65 days after planting for the crops to reach full maturity. Transplant in garden 6 to 8… To prepare Kohlrabi for eating fresh or steaming cut the leaves off. For a nutrient boost, water with compost tea each time. Crops planted midsummer for fall harvest generally have fewer insect problems and a less bitter flavor. Stems harvested later tend to be tough and woody. It is easy to deter these beetles by covering kohlrabi plants with a thin row cover. in diameter. Harvesting. Kohlrabi plants are biennial. She has years of experience in caring for flowers and plants. Spring-planted kohlrabi harvested in summer is more likely to become fibrous if you allow them to become over-mature. Store bulbs in a cool, dry place until you are ready to eat them. Kohlrabi. When cooked in stir-fries, soups, or casseroles, kohlrabi is like cabbage 2.0: vegetal, but slightly spicy. You can select from heirloom or hybrid varieties as well. Double digging or raised beds will yield kohlrabi bulbs with tender, non-pithy flesh. Kohlrabi is susceptible to pests such as flea beetles. Kohlrabi and turnips have complementary flavors and taste great together in soups or roasted vegetable medleys. Planting and Harvesting Calendar < Back to All Plants Kohlrabi reaches harvest maturity 45 to 60 days after the seeds germinate. To grow: Eat the greens immediately after harvest for the best flavor. Fast growing kohlrabi grows best in temperatures 60 to 80 F. (16-27 C.) and is ready to harvest in 50 to 70 days, or when the stem reaches 3 inches in diameter. Ideally, you should plant it so it comes to harvest before average daytime temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings will emerge in 14 to 21 days. Perhaps I should let it keep growing and enter a competition for really big kohlrabi :) It's definitely kohlrabi though, and it's getting really big!" For a fall crop, plan your harvest for a week or two after the first fall frost. Kohlrabi doesn't go through a very noticeable color change as it ripens, but you can rely on size as a determinant of harvest-readiness. Handpick caterpillar pests like the cabbage worm. Scientific name Brassica oleracea var. Sow 15 seeds/ft., 1/4- 1/2" deep, in rows 12-18" apart. Older plants have inferior texture. After that, your plants will be too old and too tough. This is when the vegetable’s flavor will be the best. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Varieties of Kohlrabi . 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Thin the seedlings to 4 inches apart after true leaves develop. Once you have the kohlrabi at the desired size, you simply pull the entire plant up. As long as you know best when to harvest kohlrabi, you’ll have plants with a milder, sweeter flavor. Learn How to Grow Kohlrabi at home, Growing Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi plant Care and more about this vegetable.This is a popular vegetable; it is well known in both taste and health. Kohlrabi can be grown in almost any region or planting zone, from Maine to Georgia and from Oregon to Texas, as long as it is planned for the shoulder seasons (i.e. If you plan to harvest it as a fall crop, you can plant the seeds about 90 days before the expected first frost date. Learn how to grow kohlrabi, a great addition to any fall vegetable garden. Kohlrabi is a cool-weather crop that is very easy to grow! Jamie has written about gardening and special occasion flowers since 2011. 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