Kohlrabi

[Chuck]

My wife watches cooking shows and has decided that she wants me to grow kohlrabi. Anyone out there have any experience or tips?

 

[majorcatfish]

they are a very interesting veggie and easy to grow, but if you do not like the taste of turnips ...nix it.... but it's imho.
at least give a try, your taste and mine could be too worlds apart.

 

[amelia88]

Best months for growing in that zone are January, February and March - so you're on track!

Here's some more details:

They're best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86° F
Space plants: 4 - 10 inches apart
Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
Compatible with (can grow in same bed): Beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
Avoid growing in same bed: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Hope that helps a little!

 

[Chuck]

any particular varieties

 

[Becky]

I've had some purple Kohlrabi before and it was very tasty, not sure which variety it was though.

 

[Durgan]

I grew kohlrabi two year's running. Didn't use them much. Will give them another try and lacto-ferment them. They grew well and were as good as any I have seen in the supermarket. This is Zone 5.

 

[Owdboggy]

Look out for the giant ones. The normal variety need to be harvested when not much bigger than a gold ball otherwise they tend to be 'woody'. The giant ones can be left until they are baseball size before using.
There is no difference in taste between the purple and the white that we can see.
We like them mashed with a little butter and pepper. They can be grated and eaten raw as a salad veg too.
Also said that any grazing animal given the choice between these and turnips/swede will choose the Kohl-rabi.