Learn Growing Kohlrabi in Pots with this easy care guide and include this delicious and nutritional vegetable in your meal.
If you want to create a vegetable garden in pots, then don’t skip this nutritious veggie. Grow Kohlrabi in Pots with the best tips and instructions for enjoying it in your meals.
Common Names: Kohlrabi, Turnip-rooted cabbage, Turnip cabbage, Knol-kohl, Kohl rabi, Stem turnip
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
USDA Zones: 4-10
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About Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) is a unique vegetable that combines the features of broccoli, turnip, and apple. It has long, leafy limbs surrounding a swollen stem, often called ‘bulbs.’ These bulbs develop quickly above ground, making kohlrabi an easy-to-grow cool-season crop suitable for early and late-season planting.
Rich in vitamins C and A, potassium, iron, and calcium, kohlrabi offers both its stems and greens for consumption. It contributes to bone density, blood pressure regulation, and eye health. Kohlrabi adds a peppery freshness to salads and stir-fries. Being frost-resistant, drought-tolerant, and resilient compared to other brassicas, it can be grown from summer to winter, depending on the variety.
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How to Grow Kohlrabi in Pots?
Growing kohlrabi in containers is feasible. The key considerations for container gardening remain consistent with ground planting: light, moisture, and space. Providing ample space around each plant is crucial for optimal growth.
Container Size for Growing Kohlrabi
It’s advisable to choose large containers, especially when transferring crops to their final positions. Options like troughs, outdoor planters, or five-gallon buckets with added drainage holes are suitable. Container depth is essential to accommodate sufficient room for root development; aim for a depth of at least 15 inches and across.
TIP: Keep in mind that using unglazed clay or terracotta pots results in quicker drying compared to plastic. Consequently, more frequent watering is required for plants in such containers.
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Propagating Kohlrabi in Pots
- Plant several seeds, half an inch deep, directly in the pot.
- Once germinated, thin the seedlings, leaving one healthy plant per pot.
- Transplant the thinned seedlings into the large containers.
- You can buy baby kohlrabi plants from a nursery and transplant them into pots.
Best Kohlrabi Varieties for Pots
- ‘Grand Duke’ (mature in about 50 days)
- ‘Kolibri’ (mature in about 50 days)
- ‘Konan’ (harvestable around 45 days post-planting)
When to Plant Kohlrabi
The ideal seasons for planting kohlrabi are spring and fall. For spring, sow seeds four weeks before the last frost or when the temperature is above45°F.
In fall, plant at least 6 weeks before the first frost for improved flavor. In frost-free climates (USDA Zone 10, 11), fall and winter are ideal for kohlrabi planting.
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Ideal Growing Conditions for Kohlrabi in Pots
Light
Keep the container in a spot with a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily. Sunlight is vital for healthy and quick growth, but Kohlrabi can handle partial shade. It can also be grown on a balcony or patio.
Soil
Grow kohlrabi in well-drained, loamy soil with high organic content. Test your soil, aiming for a neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Improve soil by adding well-rotted manure or compost in spring or fall. Avoid using fresh manure to prevent harmful bacteria and weed issues.
Water
Maintain consistent soil moisture to prevent the stem from becoming tough and woody. Container plants require frequent watering as they dry out rapidly, but be cautious not to overwater.
Optimal kohlrabi quality, characterized by sweetness, crispness, and juiciness, is achieved through rapid growth without heat or moisture stress. Overheated or water-stressed plants may produce bitter-flavored chemicals, and the bulbs may turn fibrous and crack.
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Kohlrabi Plant Care
Fertilizer
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer for feeding kohlrabi. Begin fertilizing when the plants reach 3-4 inches in height, when the first set of true leaves emerges, or approximately a month after sowing seeds—whichever comes first.
If compost or aged manure is added, there’s no need for inorganic fertilizers. Otherwise, apply a diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Enhance the soil before planting by adding blood meal, cottonseed meal, or composted manure for enrichment.
Pests and Diseases
Cabbage loopers, cutworms, aphids, and imported cabbage worms may cause damage. However, when cultivating in pots, concerns about these pests are minimal. To control pest infestation, wash the plant with a diluted soap solution and remove egg clusters under the leaves.
Using Bacillus thuringiensis is an effective method for eliminating cabbage worms. To prevent diseases like cabbage yellows, clubroot, and downy mildew, opt for disease-resistant varieties.
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Harvesting and Storage
Harvest bulbs when they reach 2-3 inches in diameter for better flavor and crispness. Use a clean knife to cut the stem from the plant’s base.
Store kohlrabi for 2-4 weeks in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator. The leaves are edible and can be steamed or sautéed, similar to kale, or used to make chips.
