# How To Grow Kohlrabi At Home

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-kohlrabi-at-home/
- Published: 2026-07-05T18:07:22-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

Learn how to grow kohlrabi at home. This article includes information on the best
time of year to plant it and when to harvest it. We’ll also look at some varieties
so you can grow kohlrabi in your own backyard. Once you’ve learned how to grow kohlrabi,
you’ll be ready to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetable. But before 
you get started, make sure you know about the most important steps to grow kohlrabi.

## Where to Plant kohlrabi

If you’re looking for tips on where to plant kohlrabi at home, you’ve come to the
right place. Kohlrabi plants need six hours of sunlight per day, fertile soil, and
moist conditions with plenty of organic matter. A soil pH between 6.5 and 6.8 is
ideal because it discourages the development of clubroot disease. A soil test can
be conducted with a kit purchased or by consulting your local Cooperative Extension
office. Afterward, you can fertilize your kohlrabi crop based on the results of 
the test.

If you choose to start your kohlrabi from seed, you should thin them to five or 
six inches apart. After thinning, you can transplant the plants to adjoining areas.
You should also thin them once they have three or four true leaves. To get an earlier
harvest, transplant kohlrabi plants. These plants need five or six weeks of growth.
For best results, thin out kohlrabi seedlings before transplanting them to the garden.

## When to Plant kohlrabi

If you live in a cool climate, kohlrabi is best planted direct in the garden, four
to six weeks before the last frost. If the first frost arrives too late, replant
the crop for fall harvest. In mild climates, sow the seed in the spring. If you 
grow kohlrabi in a container, thin it and plant it in another location, leaving 
the first two to three inches of the seedlings unbroken.

If you have a polytunnel, you can plant the seeds at least six weeks prior to the
last frost date. In a standard garden, you can plant the seeds directly into the
ground. If you’re planting them indoors, use a cloche or a fleece to protect the
young plants from harsh weather conditions. After that, you can transplant the seedlings
into the garden six to eight weeks before the last frost. Make sure to plant the
seeds 1/4 to half inch deep, and space them nine to twelve inches apart.

While the season for growing kohlrabi varies from region to region, a cool spring
or fall is the optimal time to plant them. A warm summer will stress them and hamper
the growth of their bulb-shaped stem. This vegetable belongs to the Brassica family
and is a biennial, so it will produce seeds the second year. In other words, the
best time to plant kohlrabi is when the temperatures are cool enough to encourage
its growth.

## How to Plant kohlrabi

If you’ve ever wondered how to plant kohlrabi at home, you’re not alone. Kohlrabi
is a biennial vegetable, meaning it grows twice as large as it does in a year. While
most people harvest the first year’s crop, the second year’s kohlrabi will produce
gorgeous flowers. In fact, kohlrabi is a favorite among seed savers.

First of all, make sure that your soil is rich in nitrogen and other important nutrients.
To provide these nutrients, cover the soil with a mulch that contains a high nitrogen
content. Once the kohlrabi plant has sprouted, you can side-dress it with organic
compost to speed up growth. Organic mulch also helps to moderate moisture levels
and temperature, though you should wait to apply it until the soil has warmed up.

If you’re new to growing kohlrabi, you can choose from many varieties that come 
in white, red, or purple hues. The Eder variety matures in just 38 days, while the
Gigante variety takes about 80 days. Depending on your growing season, you may want
to consider planting the Gigante variety later in the year so you can harvest them
as early as possible. In addition to growing in the fall, kohlrabi seeds also make
excellent gifts.

## kohlrabi Varieties

To grow kohlrabi, you can either plant seeds or buy young plants from a garden center.
Kohlrabi tolerates light frost and is generally planted during late summer and early
fall. It will need about 60 days to mature, so you should plant it at least one 
to two weeks before the last spring frost. Once it has established a healthy root
system, you can transplant it to another location.

There are numerous types of kohlrabi. The easiest are those with a long growing 
season of 50-70 days. They are also edible raw and have a mild cabbage flavor. You
can grow kohlrabi indoors or outdoors. The good news is that they do well in a variety
of climates. In fact, they’re even easier to grow indoors than you might think! 
To get started, check out some growing tips for this versatile vegetable.

As a member of the cabbage family, kohlrabi thrives in cool temperatures. Once summer
arrives, they’ll bolt and produce flowers. They’re also heavy feeders, so it’s important
to give them enough water and fertilizer on a consistent basis. There are nearly
two dozen varieties of kohlrabi available. You can grow heirloom varieties if you’d
like.

## Watering kohlrabi

If you are growing kohlrabi at home, the first thing you should do is water it regularly.
If you don’t water it, you can cause a stunted plant’s growth. If you’re growing
kohlrabi for the first time, it’s a good idea to start your planting early in the
spring. It won’t grow well if you put it in the wrong place or at the wrong time.

To avoid rotting kohlrabi, water it regularly and evenly. Its roots need plenty 
of moisture to produce a high-quality crop. Watering kohlrabi at home requires a
soaker hose. Watering kohlrabi at least once a week is enough. Also, kohlrabi needs
well-drained and fertile soil. You can amend the soil with organic matter to improve
the water absorption. Lastly, you should water the plant regularly with a hose.

For the best harvest, start seedlings by thinning them every few inches or once 
they’ve reached about two inches. Plant them in rows at least three inches apart
and thin them after they’re two inches tall. Water them once a week, one inch per
square foot, and then keep the soil moist. Adding a little compost tea is an excellent
fertilizer to use. When the plants are young, avoid disturbing the roots and keep
the soil moist.

## Fertilizing kohlrabi

Fertilizing kohlrabi is an important step in the growth of the vegetable. The vegetable
requires a high level of nutrients in order to grow. The best way to achieve the
proper fertilization for kohlrabi is to start with a rich soil. Use a nitrogen-rich
fertilizer such as 10-5-5 to help the plant grow well. Follow the instructions on
the packaging for proper fertilization.

If you want to maximize the amount of yield of your kohlrabi, you can plant several
rows of the vegetable in one area of your garden. The kohlrabi root ball should 
be planted at least two feet apart. This will allow sufficient room for the roots
to develop. Fertilizing kohlrabi can be done in spring or autumn, and it will grow
quickly. Use organic mulch to keep the soil cool. A nitrogen fertilizer will ensure
fast plant growth.

Another method to use to protect kohlrabi from pests is to protect the roots. Beet
armyworm larvae can destroy the leaves of kohlrabi and other members of the cabbage
family. To kill these pests, use a natural pesticide like Bacillus thuringiensis,
or a commercial fungicide. Cabbage looper and cutworms are common pests of kohlrabi.
Use organic methods to control them.

## kohlrabi Pests And Diseases

If you’re wondering how to grow kohlrabi at home, then read on! Kohlrabi is a great
vegetable to grow for the kitchen table, but it’s also a pest magnet. This versatile
vegetable is susceptible to many pests, including cabbage worms, loopers, and flea
beetles, which will stunt the growth of your other vegetables. Here are some tips
for keeping pests at bay.

First, prepare your soil. You’ll need at least 6 hours of full sun a day, and fertile,
moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Your soil must have a pH between 6.5 and
6.8 to discourage the occurrence of clubroot disease. You can purchase a kit to 
test the pH of your soil and fertilize it accordingly. It’s a good idea to plant
kohlrabi seeds at least six to eight inches apart to prevent the possibility of 
overcrowding. Make sure the plants don’t get blocked by neighboring plants – this
can delay bulb formation.

You can plant kohlrabi seeds in a pot or directly into the ground. Once the seedlings
have sprouted, thin them to a single healthy plant. If you haven’t had success growing
kohlrabi at home, you can also buy a plant from a nursery. When growing kohlrabi,
remember to plant in cool weather as the temperature will help the vegetable grow
faster and have better flavor.

## Harvesting kohlrabi

There are a few easy steps to harvesting kohlrabi at home. First, make sure that
the kohlrabi is young and tender. Harvesting too late will result in tough and bitter
kohlrabi. To harvest kohlrabi at its peak, watch for the base to swell and cut the
bulb from the root. If the bulb doesn’t swell, wait a few days and then harvest.

While kohlrabi may look like a crucifix, it is not edible when it is too big or 
too small. It will lose its freshness quickly, and will not taste as good as the
swollen stem. To harvest kohlrabi at its peak, cut the swollen stem at about two
to three inches in diameter. You can save the leaves for cooking, or eat them raw.

In order to grow kohlrabi at home, make sure that you have healthy soil. You can
purchase soil amendments that contain nitrogen to help the plants grow healthily.
If you’re unsure about the quality of your soil, you can buy Miracle-Gro Performance
Organics All Purpose In-Ground Soil, which will add nutrients and protect against
over and underwatering. After you’ve planted your kohlrabi seedlings, you’ll be 
ready to harvest them.

How To Grow Kohlrabi

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