This under-appreciated, yet beautiful, cool season vegetable could use a little love…and there really is a lot to love!
Kohlrabi is a german word that means “cabbage turnip”. It’s an easy-to-grow vegetable in the brassica family, related to broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and kale. It has a delicious bulb-like portion of stem that tastes like a sweet turnip. We like it roasted (recipe below), raw, steamed or sauted.
Growing Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is easy to grow and extremely productive. There are purple or white varieties, and either can be grown from seed or nursery plants. Plants are very fast growing and ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days from seed. Like most vegetables, it needs full sun and regular water.
Fall is the perfect time of year to plant this cool season crop. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in rich, healthy soil. Space rows 1 1/2 feet apart, and then thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart. Plants are not usually bothered by pests or diseases. Follow first plantings with successive sowings 2 weeks apart. Harvest bulbous portion when 2-3 inches wide (young, leafy parts can be harvested earlier). Kohlrabi will keep well in the refrigerator or root cellar.