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Vegetable

Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes

A crisp, mild cabbage relative grown for its swollen stem, ready in about 8 to 10 weeks. In Adelaide, sow from late summer to autumn and again in early spring. Pick when tennis-ball size or smaller for the sweetest flavour.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Early White ViennaPale green skin; fast and reliable
  • Purple ViennaPurple skin with white flesh; slightly more cold hardy

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    15 cm apart, rows 35 cm, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Keep evenly moist.

  3. Feed

    Compost, then liquid feed fortnightly.

  4. Pick, from about 8 weeks

    Cut at 5 to 7 cm across.

Good to know

  • Sow 2 to 3 seeds per spot and thin to the strongest
  • Do not mound soil around the bulb; the stem can rot
  • Sow a few every 4 to 5 weeks for a steady supply
  • Young leaves can be cooked like kale

Common problems

  • Woody, tough bulbsleft too long or grown dry; harvest small and water regularly
  • Cabbage white caterpillarscover with fine insect mesh, hand pick; use a Bt-based registered product following label directions if needed
  • Aphidshose off, encourage ladybirds
  • Fungal leaf diseasesspace for airflow and water at the base

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about kohlrabiAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing kohlrabiQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.