Kohl Rabi

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I haven't tried these before - but will this year (2004).   "They" say it's easy and fast to grow, fairly tolerant of heat and drought, resistant to pests and club-root.   And, better still, versatile and tasty in the kitchen - steamed with the skin on (or boiled?), treated like a turnip, or grated raw into salads for a fresh, nutty crunch.   What have I been missing?

Especially interesting, when I haven't yet managed a successful crop of early turnips!

How to

  • Does well on a lighter and looser soil, but otherwise as for other brassica.
  • Can be sown under cover in February and March for an early crop; transplant after 4-6 weeks, when the plants are no more than 2 inches high, in rows 12 inches apart, with plants spaced at 6 inches (for a crop of smaller, sweeter kohl rabi), to 12 inches (for larger "roots").
  • Or sow in drills 12 inches apart, direct in the bed, from April through to July.
  • Protect by covering with fleece or enviromesh tunnel.
  • Thin the seedlings to about 9-12 inches apart (or 6 inches for "baby" roots).
  • Harvest - best done when they are tennis ball size to get the sweet nuttiness.

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Growing Calendar - Kohl Rabi

keyTimings are based on my allotment in Yorkshire; southerners will start earlier, northerners even later!

Fits in Brassica part of rotation.kohl rabi calendar