Growing KohlRabi – Monster of all Vegetables

Posted on 03. Jul, 2011 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

When I first saw Kohlrabi, I thought it looked like an alien vegetable that had invaded my vegetable plot. I found it hard to like its spiky sprouting leaves which stood sharply upright out of the spaceship bulb and it reminded me of an upside down tripod from War of the Worlds.

So to me it was a bit of an ugly vegetable and it didn’t help that last year when I grew kohlrabi mine turned out to be a bit malformed, probably down to me sowing it late in the season and the temperature wasn’t warm enough to keep it growing.

Last Years Kohlrabi

Now I’m not afraid to say I’m weird, but unusually for me, this appeared on first glance to be too weird for me. Although this year when I saw the shiny seed offer on MoreVeg.co.uk for the KohlRabi Triple Collection my eyes were drawn to the purpleness of the variety ‘Purple Delicacy‘ and all its ‘hideousness’ was forgotten.

Through my own admission I have gone a bit mad with the colourful veg this year with purple mange tout, purple sprouting broccoli and purple & yellow french beans – yet to come. So in short yes I am growing ‘it’ again this year.

Weird Things You Need To Know about Growing Kohl Rabi

1. The bulb grows above the ground not below it,
2. Its as crisp as an apple but tastes like cabbage crossed with turnip,
3. The whole vegetable can be eaten (leaves, stems and bulb),
4. Regardless of colour on the outside, they all have white flesh,
5. They can be used as a mad design feature by growing them in long column pots,
6. Kohlrabi is a popular dish in Germany, but no so much in the UK,
7. It has a mild flavour and can be disguised in dishes as it takes on other flavours.

How To Grow KohlRabi

Sow: February to August
Harvest: April to October

If you would like to try growing KohlRabi, please read my new guide – How To Grow KohlRabi
It contains step by step instructions on how to sow the seeds directly into raised beds, pests and diseases, harvesting, loves and hates growing conditions and more.

Other Guides at iGrowVeg

How To Grow Veg Guides

Step by Step instructions and what you will need to start sowing your very first vegetable crops with a handy photo slideshow to show you how to get started and what to expect from your seedlings.

Veg Directory

Find out more about the vegetable varieties that I’m growing, where to buy them, when to sow, harvest, special features and photos or slideshows to help you choose which variety to grow in your vegetable plot.

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