Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
Kohlrabi
Common names: German turnip
Photo: Toubib at Dutch Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Description
Kohlrabi is the most straightforward cabbage in the bed and ready to harvest after just a few weeks. The tender, mild bulb tastes best raw. Besides the pale green ones there are purple cultivars such as ‘Blauer Delikatess’ that stand out visually.
Care instructions
Sow it from March (week 11) indoors or directly into the bed and plant it shallowly so the bulb sits cleanly above the soil. Water evenly, because in dry spells the bulb splits or turns woody. Harvest it young, as soon as it is the size of a tennis ball to a fist; that is when it is most tender.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–Jun
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
particularly well establishedLeguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.
For example PeaBroad beanRed beanLima beanchickpeaRed Clover and 27 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
carrot family (Apiaceae)
You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.
For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue
Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice
mint family (Lamiaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 27 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)
Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.
For example Tropaeolum majusMashua
Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
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Varieties
4 varieties‘Azur Star’
Early, strong blue-violet kohlrabi, *‚Azur Star’*, starts early in the early bed or under fleece.
‘Delikatess Blauer’
You will find *‚Delikatess Blauer’* to be a proven, seed‑stable favorite with a blue violet over‑coated head and especially fine, delicate flesh.
‘Noriko’
An early white kohlrabi that stands out for its marked resistance to splitting: the bulbs stay tender longer than in…
‘Superschmelz’
The famous giant kohlrabi from Switzerland, whose white bulbs can reach several kilos and still stay tender.
Notes from real gardens
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From the magazine
Kohlrabi, the fast crop: sow in batches, harvest tender
Kohlrabi is ready to harvest in eight to ten weeks. Sow in batches from CW 12 to 30, plant shallow and water evenly, and you will pick tender bulbs all summer long.
June: The First Big Harvest and the Beds in Full Swing
June brings the first big harvest: strawberries, peas and kohlrabi fill the basket. At the same time, sowing for autumn carries on, and the first pests need keeping in check. Your plan for early summer.