Growing kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) isn't the hardest thing in the world, as kohlrabi is actually somewhat easy to grow. Start your plants indoors about four to six weeks before you plan to put them outside.
How to Grow Kohlrabi
After four to six weeks, plant the baby plants outdoors in well-drained, rich soil. Growing kohlrabi is most successful in cooler weather. The early crops started indoors and then transplanted outdoors will provide you with a nice crop.
When you think about how to plant kohlrabi, remember that there are many different types. Kohlrabi is a member of the cabbage family. There are white, reddish, and purple varieties, some of which will mature early and others mature late. The Eder variety, for example, is a faster maturing variety that takes about 38 days to mature, while Gigante matures in about 80 days. Gigante is best for fall.
How Does Kohlrabi Grow?
When growing kohlrabi, most growth occurs in spring or in fall. The plant definitely prefers cool weather, so if you can only grow one crop a season, fall is preferred. It will taste best if it matures in the fall.
Kohlrabi isn't a root plant; the bulb is the stem of the plant and it should sit just above the level of the soil. This part of the root will swell and become a sweet, tender vegetable you can cook or eat raw.
How to Plant Kohlrabi
When thinking about how to plant your kohlrabi, you have a choice to start it outside or inside. If you start it inside, wait until the baby plants are four to six weeks old before transplanting them into your prepared garden soil outside.
First, fertilize your soil and then plant the kohlrabi. You can have a continuous crop if you plant your kohlrabi every two to three weeks. Make sure to place the seeds ¼ to ½ inch (.5-1 cm.) deep into the soil and about 2 to 5 inches (5-13 cm.) apart if planting seeds directly outside.
Also, when growing kohlrabi, keep the soil well watered or you'll end up with tough,woody stemmed plants.
When to Harvest Kohlrabi
Harvest kohlrabi is when the first stem is 1 inch (2.5 cm.) in diameter. Kohlrabi can be continuously harvested, up until the stems are 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) in diameter. After that, your plants will be too old and too tough. As long as you know best when to harvest kohlrabi, you'll have plants with a milder, sweeter flavor.
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