Growing Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea gongylodes : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S S            
      T T T T T        
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Kohlrabi in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 25 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

26 Apr 14, David (Australia - temperate climate)
You sure can; my favourite green vegie last year was Kohl Rabi leaves as a fried stand alone green veg. It is worth growing just for the leaves!
25 Jan 13, Robert Capecchi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
2 Kohlrabi (boil 25mins) transfer to chilled water, towel dry & slice 4 carrots (boil 15mins) transfer to chilled water, towel dry & slice Mix with 250grams of mozzarella and a handful of parsley. Put into a buttered baking dish and cook @ 200'c for 12 mins.
30 Aug 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Amanda. When i lived in temperate Sydney, the kohlrabi was a lot less bulbous as well. Perhaps it is the region you live. Kohlrabi, and most of the family, grow slower in the cooler regions. I'm no scientist, but I've noticed this. Maybe it grows too quickly?. The same would apply to onions I think. I tried growing onions in the south of India a couple of years ago. The heat just turned them into spring onions, almost no bulb at all. Just a theory. Maybe you could try in the shady? It might work.
30 Aug 12, Amanda Grady (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have kohlrabi growing. Lots of leaves which are delicious cooked like spinach. Unfortunately there is no swelling at the base yet. How long should it take to start to see something. I have problem with onions not swelling also. Is this the same reason?
27 Jul 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes Ingvild, I learnt this recipe from my Dutch friends as well. It's really delicious, and you can also mash in some celeriac to go with it.
25 Apr 12, konstantinos (Australia - temperate climate)
hi my kohlrabi has holes on it any advice? thanks metiteranian climat
28 Sep 11, Peter Kovacs (Australia - arid climate)
My Mather make a howl an it with a spoon and filled with mince and rice and seasoning,cooked in the dill sauce from the inside of spooned out kohlrabi. See Hungarian recipe's.
05 Aug 11, Ruth Rae (Australia - temperate climate)
Why do half my seedlings form bulbs but tthe rest just thicken a little up the stem? These are quite useless . I have tried them at different times of the year and the result is always the same
04 Sep 11, Roger (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Ruth; No answers but i have the same problem! No big swollen bottoms like in the photo. just thick stalks
31 Mar 11, jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
how is kohlabri marketed?
Showing 51 - 60 of 66 comments

Is it okay to start sowing the kohl rabi seeds now or should I wait for a couple of months and start in August? I live in suburban Sydney

- Shar

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