Kohlrabi is alone in its look—no different crop exists prefer it! Although to originate from coastal western Europe, this cabbage relative is now extensively accessible from seed retailers. It’s a beautiful species that’s each decorative and extremely helpful.
As a result of kohlrabi is not like some other vegetable, you might not know the right way to harvest, eat, and retailer it. Worry not, as there are lots of easy strategies for us house gardeners. We’ll minimize leaves, peel the bulbs, and put together the crop utilizing just a few strategies.
Whether or not you eat it recent or cooked, you’ll style a nice broccoli-radish taste mix that’s savory and peppery. You’ll wish to know when to drag kohlrabi for peak taste—the bulbs decline in high quality in the event that they develop too lengthy within the backyard. Let’s see when and the right way to harvest it for a great texture, taste, and look.
When to Harvest Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi takes between 50 to 60 days to develop from seed to a mature bulb. Some bigger varieties take longer than 60 days to kind mature bulbs, however most shall be prepared to reap two months after planting. As a result of kohlrabi is a cool season crop, you’ll most definitely harvest it in spring, fall, or winter.
You’ll wish to wait till the bulbs attain just under their full marketed measurement. Normal varieties swell to two or three inches in diameter, whereas others develop between 4 to 6 inches. Some new gigantic varieties exist that attain eight to 10 inches broad! Harvest every of those proper as they attain their full measurement, and keep away from delaying harvests.
Delayed harvests trigger woody, peppery bulbs which are troublesome to eat. Cooking the flesh can typically cut back the woodiness, though some powerful fibers might stay in your dish. Mix overgrown kohlrabi in soups, stews, or sauces to masks the feel and taste of the overripe bulbs.
Use the Leaves 12 months Spherical
Do you know kohlrabi leaves are edible just like the bulbs? Their tasty leafy greens are just like cabbage and cauliflower leaves. Relying on the variability you develop, they’ll have purple, inexperienced, or white colours all through. The good thing about consuming the leaves is that they’re prepared properly earlier than the bulbs are. Harvest just a few to benefit from the kohlrabi taste early within the rising season.
Steam or boil the leaves to make them tender and extra palatable. The youngest leaves are finest to eat, as they’re tender, recent, and candy tasting. Older leaves can develop powerful, fibrous, and bitter. If you happen to discover the greens are too bitter to eat, merely mix them and use them in sauces or soups for additional fiber.
After boiling or steaming the leaves you may eat them, or attempt sautéing them in butter or oil with salt and pepper. Combine in different greens like spinach and Swiss chard for a flavorful facet dish. Regardless of the way you put together them, they’re tasty additions to your culinary instrument belt.
Varieties Ripen at Totally different Speeds
Most kohlrabi bulbs ripen in 50 to 70 days, however bigger varieties can take over 120 days! All of it depends upon the variability you develop and the situations it receives. Look to your seed packets for estimated days to maturity rankings. This tells you what number of days your plant must develop from seed to a full-size specimen.
Normal varieties that develop two to a few inches in diameter take 50 to 70 days to ripen absolutely. Reliable varieties like ‘White Vienna’ and ‘Purple Vienna’ fall into this class. They develop shortly, reliably, and with out concern in cool-weather gardens.
Different varieties like ‘Gigante’ want 130 days to achieve full measurement! This sort grows bulbs which are eight to 10 inches broad and infrequently develop woody or pithy. They’re good for root veggie lovers seeking to diversify their palate.
How lengthy your brassica takes to mature impacts your harvest date. Longer maturity rankings imply you’ll must are inclined to vegetation for a lot of weeks. This equates to a greater harvest, nevertheless it takes endurance and diligence. Develop commonplace kohlrabi for a fast and simple crop, or bigger ones for a difficult however rewarding expertise.
Harvest and Retailer Kohlrabi
As soon as your crop is prepared, it’s time to slice it up and retailer it! Begin by discovering mature bulbs in your backyard. Search for ones which are virtually full measurement and harvest them earlier than they develop woody or pithy. Youthful kohlrabi tastes sweeter and fewer peppery.
Harvest your bulbs by pulling them out of the bottom, or by slicing their important taproot off. Slicing the roots off causes much less soil disturbance, however it could additionally make the kohlrabi ripen faster than regular in storage. Think about which choice you favor, then take away all the just about full-size bulbs out of your backyard. Chop off the leaves and use them in recipes, or compost them.
There are just a few choices for storing this vegetable. It’ll maintain for 2 weeks within the crisper drawer of your fridge, and for a 12 months or longer within the freezer. In contrast to potatoes and onions, it doesn’t retailer properly in a pantry or cabinet. If you happen to’re freezing them, attempt chopping the bulbs up first in order that they’re prepared to make use of if you pull them out.
To eat kohlrabi, put together it recent or cooked. Contemporary bulbs are tasty additions to charcuterie boards and veggie plates. Begin by peeling the pores and skin, then slice the kohlrabi into skinny parts. For cooking recipes, chop the bulbs into squares or depart them in bigger chunks for savory and scrumptious flavors.
Depart a Specimen For Seeds
Kohlrabi, like different cabbage kin, is a biennial plant we gardeners deal with as an annual. If you happen to depart it in your backyard, it’ll develop flowers and seeds from the bulb in its second 12 months. Depart the yellow flowers for pollinators, they usually’ll flip from blossoms to inexperienced seed pods.
This works in most climates, though in chilly zones 6 and beneath the bulbs might undergo from frost injury. Shield them with layers of natural mulch in the course of the coldest months. Fall leaves, wooden chips, or straw mulch work properly to insulate them.
Saving kohlrabi seeds is a enjoyable and simple experiment. Heirloom varieties are good for seed saving since they typically develop true to kind. If in case you have hybrids or newer cultivars, there’s an opportunity that the seeds you save will sprout into distinctive seedlings with new traits. Strive it your self to see what’s potential—after years of seed saving you might create a brand new selection!
If you happen to depart your kohlrabi for seeds, you received’t be capable of harvest it for the bulb. Plan to let certainly one of your crops go to seed this 12 months so that you’ve got a constant provide of free kohlrabi. You’ll by no means have to purchase seeds once more!
Fashionable Varieties
Are you curious which varieties are finest for the house backyard? These 4 kohlrabies style candy, savory, and scrumptious. Strive them for a straightforward harvest this season.
‘Purple Vienna’
This burgundy cultivar excels within the backyard. It’s excellent for growers with brief seasons, because it solely takes between 50 and 69 days to mature absolutely from seeds. It sprouts purple stems and inexperienced foliage, and the bulb matures into a stunning purple hue.
This sort is prepared for harvesting when the bulbs attain two to a few inches in diameter. Choose them earlier than they develop too giant so that you style them at their finest.
‘White Vienna’
‘White Vienna’ is the lighter counterpart to ‘Purple Vienna.’ It sprouts bulbs of the same measurement and dimension, besides they’re pale green-white. The stems are additionally green-white, and the foliage is a darker inexperienced. Develop the 2 varieties close to one another for a stunning contrasting design.
‘White Vienna’ is prepared for harvesting when the bulbs are two to a few inches broad. They take 50 to 60 days to achieve full measurement. Chop the purple and white varieties collectively in a salad for a satisfying presentation with decadent flavors.
‘Kolibri’
Growers with a medium-length rising season ought to attempt ‘Kolibri!’ It swells a bit bigger than the earlier two varieties, reaching between 4 to 6 inches in diameter. It additionally sports activities a purple pores and skin darker than ‘Purple Vienna.’
Remarkably, this cultivar sometimes wants 45 days to mature from seed to a full-size bulb. Watch it carefully, and harvest it earlier than it grows woody or bolts with flowers.
‘Gigante’
One of many largest kohlrabies, ‘Gigante’ reaches eight to 10 inches broad! It’s the right selection for many who love a rising problem. Though it wants almost 130 days to develop to full measurement, it’s properly well worth the wait.
As a result of this selection wants a protracted rising season, you’ll wish to time its development so that the majority of it happens throughout cool seasons. Begin seeds indoors a month earlier than the final frost, and transfer the seedlings outdoor every week earlier than this date.
Regularly Requested Questions
Most varieties want 50 to 60 days to mature, that means they’ll be prepared for harvest two months after they germinate. Spring sowings are sometimes ripe from March by way of June, whereas summer season sowings ripen from August by way of November. If you happen to dwell in a heat local weather in zones 9 and above, you may develop kohlrabi within the winter for harvests from December by way of February.
You may prune and eat the leaves at any time when! The younger leaves style essentially the most recent and the least bitter. Use previous leaves blended in soups, stews, or sauces for additional doses of fiber and vitamins.
One of the best ways to know is to verify the seed package deal for the times to maturity score. Most kohlrabies require two months to swell absolutely, whereas bigger varieties want three to 4 months. Watch your crops as they mature and also you’ll catch them earlier than they overripen.