Quick Reference:

Plant seed 1/8 inch deep. Germination 12 to 14 days. Seed spacing 1 to 2 inches. Plant spacing in the garden 16 to 24 inches. Shallow planting provides warmer soil for better germination but soil must be kept moist at all times until seedlings emerge.

When and where to grow:

Kohlrabi is frost resistant and grows best when temperatures are below 75 degrees F. making them is very much at home in Alaska's cool summer weather. Plant the seed as soon as the soil can be prepared and has warmed in the spring. Seed is usually planted directly in the garden where the enlarged stems will easily mature but for an earlier harvest seed can be started indoors 4 to 5 weeks before the last frost. Choose a sunny garden location with fertile soil, cultivate soil, enrich with plant food, smooth the soil surface, plant seed, firm soil over seed and keep moist until seedlings emerge.

Care:

Kohlrabi MUST be protected from root maggots. Water when the soil starts to dry out, keep weed free and apply plant food every 4 to 6 weeks to promote fast growth for mild, tender stems. Thin plants so they are 10 to 12 inches apart.

Harvest:

Cut the enlarged stems when they are small to medium sized, before they become woody.