Grow Kohlrabi In Florida

Is it easy to grow kohlrabi in Florida?

Plant kohlrabi in the cool seasons of Florida, Between October and February. Plant in full sun 18 inches apart. Florida friendly varieties of kohlrabi are Early White Vienna, Grand Duke, Kolibri, and Purple Vienna.

I didn’t even know what Kohlrabi was until just recently when I saw this alien-looking plant growing in a garden.

Kohlrabi is in the same family as cabbage and such. Kohlrabi in German is translated to cabbage turnip. That may really excite some people. That, may also, really turn others off.

Kohlrabi comes in a few different colors and there are a couple of ways to enjoy the plant.

When To Plant Kohlrabi In Florida

Kohlrabi is a cool-season vegetable. This vegetable likes the weather chilly, it can even withstand a light frost.

Planting Times For Florida

North Florida	Sep – Mar
Central Florida	Oct – Mar
South Florida	Oct – Feb

Kohlrabi will thrive in temperatures that are around 70-80°F. Anything past the low to mid 80’s and kohlrabi will be stunted.

Your plant is ready for harvest in about 50-60 days after planting. When planting Kohlrabi it’s a good idea to think about succession planting. Plant a few seeds in week one and then three weeks later plant a few more seeds.

This way you don’t have all of your kohlrabi ready for harvest at the same time.

Kohlrabi Varieties

Kohlrabi can come in a few different colors and sizes. The most colorful variety is probably Kolibri, It is a really deep and vibrant purple color.

Early White Vienna
Grand Duke

Kolibri
Kossak
Purple Vienna

Superschmelz

Superschmelz is a unique variety because it grows the largest bulb out of all the varieties of kohlrabi. The bulbs can reach up to 10 inches in diameter.

Superschmelz doesn’t require as much water as other varieties do. Superschmelz also resists the urge to get fibrous even though the bulbs are so large.

Kohlrabi has the tendency to git fibrous and pithy if grown without enough water or left in the ground too long.

Growing Kohlrabi

When planting Kohlrabi be sure to choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun. The more the better.

This spot should also have an organic-rich, well-draining soil.

I’m a huge fan of mulch. When planting and growing any plant, a thick layer of mulch will go a long way in helping it grow big and healthy.

Kohlrabi plants should have 18 inches of space between each other. You can choose to direct sow seeds right into the garden or use transplants.

If planting seeds directly into the garden, I’ve found it best to plant more than you think you will need and then thin the seedlings as they come up. It hurts my little heart to kill these baby seedlings, snipping them before they even really got a chance. But it’s for the greater good of the garden!

Be sure to water Kohlrabi Regularly, It enjoys plenty of water. As mentioned above, if you underwater kohlrabi your root will be fibrous. And overall not as enjoyable as it could be.

Fertilizing Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is harvested for both it’s leaves and also it’s rooted. For this reason, we should apply a well rounded all-purpose fertilizer. Something like a basic 10-10-10 will be perfect.

How To Harvest Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is usually ready for harvest approximately two months after planting. The best kohlrabi roots are picked when they are young and tender. This is the time when they are at their most sweet. The bulbs should be between 1.5″ – 3″ in diameter.

If you wanted to grow kohlrabi for an extended period of time and just harvest the leaves you could do that as well. Harvest leaves from the bottom up. The root will become too tough to enjoy but you will have a steady supply of greens.

Common Kohlrabi Pests And Problems

Kohlrabi isn’t really bothered by too many pests. The most common problem is aphids, which are easily taken care of with a powerful stream of water. You may see the cabbage looper and beetle. You can handle these by handpicking if your plant isn’t infested.

It’s possible that you may see downy mildew as well. This is handled with a copper fungicide spray like this one, available at most local hardware stores.

The best pest defense and a key to a healthy garden is having a diverse garden. Plant lots of plants that have a purpose in your garden, whether it be beauty (which usually attracts other bugs), food, or function.

Attract Beneficial Insects To Your Garden

How To Grow Kohlrabi In Florida

In order to grow kohlrabi in Florida, we need to plant at the right time and choose the best varieties for our conditions

Plant kohlrabi between the months of October and February in Florida
Varieties of kohlrabi that will grow well in Florida are Early White, Vienna, Grand Duke, Kolibri, Kossak, Purple Vienna, and Superschmelz
Plant in full sun and well-driaing, organic-rich soil with a thick layer of mulch