The fast - growing Brassica oleracea gongylodes works is a unequalled cool - atmospheric condition crop that is easy for beginners .
But learning how to grow kohlrabi at house starting with understand what it needs to thrive . This detailed template is designed to instruct you just that .
Everything you need to grow Brassica oleracea gongylodes is admit here , from where and when to plant , to details on watering , sun , grunge , fertilizer , temperature , pestis mastery , harvesting tips , and much more .
Lovely purple kohlrabi plant
Table of Contents
Quick Kohlrabi Plant Care Overview
Information About Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi ( Brassica oleracea ) is a two-year vegetable native to northwestern Europe , and a member of the cabbage family line , along withbrussels sprout , broccoli , andcauliflower .
It produces a single above - ground conceited root word , or bulb , that can be white , purple , or green . From that rise unsloped , svelte stem top with blue - green farewell .
All parts of the plant are edible , and the bulbs are sweet , nipping , and juicy . The flavor is similar to a mild turnip , which is how it earned the cognomen German white turnip and cabbage Brassica rapa .
They grow speedily , average between 45 - 60 days to maturity . If you leave the stem in the soil after harvest home , they can regrow to flower and set ejaculate the undermentioned year .
Different Types Of Kohlrabi Plants
There are many variety show to choose from that range in different days to maturity , to color , and size . No matter which one you pick , they all can be cared for in the same way .
Some of the most popular assortment are :
Hardiness
Kohlrabi prefers the coolheaded weather of spring and fall . It ’s a biennial in zona 3 - 10 and can subsist lows down to 25 ° F ( -4 ° 100 ) .
The incandescent lamp will become inedible in the heat of summer when it stays consistently above 75 ° F ( 23.9 ° C ) alfresco .
How Does Kohlrabi Grow?
Each Brassica oleracea gongylodes plant produces a single swollen comestible fore ( often called a lightbulb ) just above the soil line that is top with long upright blue - gullible leaf .
The second year the plant will get heyday stalking with jaundiced or white blossoms and then place source .
How To Grow Kohlrabi
Before we get into the details of industrial plant care , let ’s first chat about where and when to grow turnip cabbage . determine the veracious time and localisation is an important first whole step in a successful season .
Where To Grow Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi needs mass of sun , place , and healthy land to get . A garden plot of land , raised beds , or large containers are all good options .
If you need to farm yours in a good deal , be indisputable to opt one that ’s at least 16 ” widely and rich with drainage holes to prevent overwatering .
When To Plant Kohlrabi
Cool weather is fundamental for growing Brassica oleracea gongylodes . found it in the early spring , surrender , or even winter in climates that do n’t experience temporary consistently below freezing .
verbatim sow seeds as soon as the priming coat is workable in the fountain , about 4 week before the last hoar , or 6 workweek before the first hoar of fall .
Otherwise commence them indoors 2 - 3 weeks prior to that to get a jump-start on the produce season .
Kohlrabi Plant Care & Growing Instructions
Now that you make love when and where to grow kohlrabi , it ’s time to verbalise about how to care for it . The information in this segment is cardinal to create the idealistic environment for it to thrive .
Sunlight
pick out a full Dominicus location for your kohlrabi . They need at least 6 hour of verbatim sun a day to acquire well .
If they get too much tone they may develop a lot of healthy leaf , but the bulb will either be small or not form at all .
In live , waterless climates , protect the plants from the intense afternoon Sunday . Ashade clothworks great for that .
Water
coherent and even territory wet is significant for kohlrabi to form the round swollen-headed stems . They should never dry all , and need between 1 - 1.5 ” of water a week .
However it ’s authoritative to obviate overwatering to the point of pretend the soil soggy , which can pass to issues of rot and mold .
It ’s also important to avoid periods of drought because the bulb can crock up once the plant rehydrates .
Temperature
nerveless conditions is also very important . It ’s central for the bulb to form , and increase the sweet . The idealistic temperature range is between 40 - 75 ° F ( 4.4 - 23.9 ° degree Celsius ) .
Anything below 24 ° F ( -4.4 ° C ) can drink down it or trick the works into thinking the time of year has ended , and may cause untimely bolting when the weather warms again .
temperature above 75 ° F ( 23.9 ° carbon ) will top to elusive , acrid , or misshapen bulb .
Fertilizer
Kohlrabi is not a heavy feeder , particularly when it ’s growing in fertile , sizeable soil . But the occasional alimentation will give it a little boost .
Use a balanced , organic liquid fertilizer likecompost teaorfish emulsionmonthly during the grow season .
Or side - clothes the plant withslow - release granule , well - rotted manure , orcompostonce per month until harvest .
Soil
The ideal land for growing kohlrabi is ample and well - enfeeble , with a pH between 6.0 - 6.8 , which you may test with aprobe beat .
Amend garden territory withcompostbefore planting , or use a potting filth that ’s rich with organic topic for containers .
Pest Control Tips
tidy kohlrabi does n’t have many issues with pests , but occasionally they can be affected byflea mallet , cabbage measuring worm , andcabbage worms .
Hand beak orotund dirt ball and drop them into a bucketful of soapy water to shoot down them . check into the underside of leaves for ball or cocoon and remove them immediately .
wrangle covers , plant collars , yellow sticky traps , andinsecticidal soapcan also be used to deter or get free of pests . I make my own by mixing 1 teaspoon ofgentle liquid soapwith 1 liter of water system .
Disease Control Tips
disease like clubroot , disastrous rot , and mould are the most vernacular payoff for kohlrabi . Wilting and yellowing leaf , or livid or black spots on the leafage are signs of disease .
The best methods for negociate them is to assure each Brassica oleracea gongylodes plant has plenty of air circulation and is in well - draining land , and that the bed is clear of any plant life debris .
Tips For Harvesting Kohlrabi
glean your kohlrabi at the good clip is significant for the good nip and texture . you’re able to get all the details in my post abouthow to harvest kohlrabi , but here are the staple .
When the bulbs are 2 - 3 ” in diam it ’s metre to harvest them , unless you ’re produce a form that ’s specifically mean to be big .
In most case allow for them to get too big lead to a woody , tough , and bitter flavor .
The leaves are also comestible . you may pick them as presently as they ’re large enough . But never remove them all before the base is ready , the industrial plant needs them to build enough energy to form the bulb .
apply a sharp , clean brace ofheavy tariff pruners , and abridge at the soil melodic line beneath the swollen stem , or simply draw the whole plant because it wo n’t raise another bulb .
Related Post : How To Freeze Kohlrabi ( With Or Without Blanching )
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Kohlrabi is fairly well-off to grow , but no plant is job free . If you flow into one of these more rough-cut issues , the tips below will help you get back on track .
Woody / Tough Texture
hot up above 75 ° F ( 23.9 ° C ) , long time , and inconsistent watering can all lead to a woody , toughened grain .
Do n’t go forth turnip cabbage in the earth once it ’s reached the ideal size for harvesting . Keep the stain moist , without making it sodden or letting it dry out between drinks .
Usea ghost clothto shield them from the hot afternoon sun if it ’s gotten too lovesome for them .
Kohlrabi Tall Not Round
Improperly form bulbs are due to temperature that are too hot or cold , spacing issue , inconsistent water , too much shade , or soil alimentary deficiencies .
Thin seedlings to about 9 - 12 ” aside to allow enough space , verify they get at least 6 hours of full sunlight , keep the soil equally moist , and add nutrient to it with agranular fertilizerorcompost .
Leaves But No Bulb
No medulla at all is stimulate by overcrowding , low - quality grunge , temperatures outside the ideal range , deficiency of sunlight , or unlawful watering .
secure the soil stays evenly moist and top - garb withfertilizer granulesorcompost . Give each works 9 - 12 ” of space , and assure they get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day .
institute them as shortly as your garden layer is executable in early spring , or once temps have cool off in the fall .
Kohlrabi Cracking / Splitting
discrepant watering is the number one intellect why the bulbs break or separate open . It ’s often because of a full point of drouth , follow by a surplus of water .
or else of allowing the soil to dry between drinks , utilize 1 - 1.5 ” of water throughout each week so it stays systematically moist . habituate asimple standard of measurement probeto check it if you struggle with this .
FAQs
Does kohlrabi come back every year?
turnip cabbage will grow back the 2nd year if you leave the stem that ’s beneath the lightbulb in the primer after harvesting . However as a biennial plant , it wo n’t uprise another edible bulb . It will or else produce flowers and set seed the 2nd year , then it wo n’t arrive back again .
Is kohlrabi easy or difficult to grow?
Kohlrabi is well-fixed to produce once you understand the proper timing , environment , and care need . It involve cool conditions , rich grime , consistent watering , and plenty of sunshine . mellow temps and dry weather can make it more difficult to grow .
How long does it take for kohlrabi to grow?
The specific amount of clock time it takes for kohlrabi to spring up is hooked on the form . But on average it will contact maturity date sometime between 45 - 60 daytime .
How many kohlrabi do you get per plant?
You will get one kohlrabi per plant . Though they can grow back a second year , they will not ease up another bulb , and instead the industrial plant will bloom and go to seed .
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