How to grow Kohlrabi
Updated October 2026
Kohlrabi is a fast cabbage-family crop grown for its swollen, crisp stem, which tastes like a mild, sweet turnip with the crunch of a water chestnut. It is ready in as little as 40 to 60 days and is at its best picked small, before it turns woody.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Kohlrabi
Where to plant
Grow kohlrabi in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter worked in. It grows best below about 75°F. Hot weather makes the stems tough and woody, so in warm areas grow it as a spring or fall crop.
Kohlrabi is the least hardy of the cabbage-like vegetables. Young plants can be damaged by hard frosts, and long spells averaging below about 45°F can make plants bolt to flower instead of swelling.
- Florida: plant from September to March in North Florida, October to March in Central Florida and October to February in South Florida.
- The Gulf South, Texas, the Desert Southwest and California: sow from fall into late winter so the crop grows through the cool months.
- The Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: sow in early spring and again in late summer.
- The Northeast, Midwest, Northern Plains, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest and Alaska: sow or transplant 1 to 2 weeks before the last spring frost, and sow a fall crop about 50 days before you want to harvest.
Choosing a variety
Utah State University Extension recommends 'Quickstar' (about 40 days, purple skin), 'Grand Duke' (about 50 days) and 'White Vienna' or 'Purple Vienna' (about 60 days). Green and purple types taste the same inside.
How to plant
- Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep where it is to grow, or raise transplants for 5 to 6 weeks until they have 4 to 6 true leaves.
- Thin seedlings to about 6 inches apart when they have 3 or 4 true leaves, in rows about 1 foot apart.
- For a steady supply, sow a short row every couple of weeks through your sowing window.
Watering and feeding
Water often, as kohlrabi has shallow roots. It needs about 1 to 2 inches a week, and uneven moisture makes the stems tough and woody. Mulch to keep the soil moist and cool.
Work compost or a complete fertilizer into the bed before sowing, guided by a soil test, and side-dress with a little nitrogen about 3 weeks after thinning to keep growth fast.
Pruning and care through the year
- Use fabric row covers to protect young plants from frost and from cabbage worms and flea beetles.
- Weed carefully while plants are small, as the shallow roots are easy to damage.
- Rotate kohlrabi with crops outside the cabbage family.
Harvesting
Cut the swollen stem at soil level when it is 2 to 3 inches across. Larger stems turn tough and woody. The young leaves can be cooked like cabbage or kale.
Trim off the leaves and store kohlrabi for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Peel the tough outer skin before eating it raw or cooked.
Companion planting
Kohlrabi is small and quick, so it fits between slower crops. It shares pests with other cabbage-family plants.
Good companions
- Beet A cool-season root crop that grows alongside without competing above ground.
- Onion Takes little space and grows in the same cool season.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to kohlrabi.
- Tomato A warm-season crop with different timing; traditionally kept apart.
- Strawberry Traditional advice keeps cabbage-family crops away from strawberries.
Pests and diseases
Kohlrabi has the same pests as cabbage. Row covers prevent most of them.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars chewing holes in the leaves.
- Aphids Green or black clusters under leaves, which crinkle and curl.
- Flea beetles Tiny holes in seedling leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Wilting plants with swollen, distorted roots; rotate crops and avoid acid soil.
Common questions
When is kohlrabi ready to pick?
When the swollen stem is 2 to 3 inches across, usually 40 to 60 days from sowing depending on variety. Bigger stems turn tough and woody.
Why is my kohlrabi woody?
It was left too long, grew in hot weather, or dried out. Pick at 2 to 3 inches across, grow it in spring or fall, and water evenly each week.
Why did my kohlrabi flower without forming a bulb?
Long cool spells, with average temperatures below about 45°F, can make kohlrabi bolt. Avoid planting too early in spring or too late in fall.
What does kohlrabi taste like?
Like a mild, sweet turnip, with a crisp texture like water chestnut. Peel it and eat it raw in slaws, or roast, steam or stir-fry it.
Can I eat kohlrabi leaves?
Yes. Cook the young leaves like cabbage or kale.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Kohlrabi in Your Garden; UF/IFAS EDIS: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021).
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