I am gardening by the Moon on my fall garden.
They say to plant root crop on a certain date and crop above the ground another.
What is Kohlrabi?
The fruit is above the ground ... but it looks like a root.
Please help !
Is Kohlrabi a root crop?
I am glad you asked drthor,
I am also sowing my seeds for the first time this year, according to the moon. I was wondering the same, and then also, is cucumbers, squashes and pumpkins considered as vines, for fruiting vegetables?
Elsa
Drthor,
Why don't you just plant them half and half? Half on the root crop date, and the other half on the above ground date. Conduct an experiment, and see what produces better.
Thanks Gymgirl ... huummm ... no time or space for experiment.
I will wait for somebody that has done this before to plant.
To Elsa 123: I was in Pretoria lst November. OMG you are so lucky !! what a fantastic planting zone you have and what amazing flowers. I am so gelous !!
Kohlrabi is an enlarged stem not a root.
Thanks so much. It makes sense.
I love Kohlrabi
drthor,
Yes, SA is an amazing country - and especially Pretoria is a lovely place to live. The weather is great, and we are lucky to have many garden centres in close proximity. I am planning on going to one of the largest rose farms in SA on the 27th of September. I can't wait...
E
Forgot to ask, do we then plant the kohlrabi together with the leave veggies?
I too planted kohlrabi for the first time this year and mine only reached golf ball size. I understand that it should be about soft ball size for best eating. Did any of you transplant, or direct seed. The neighbor who told us that this plant did really great in her garden in previous years didn't mention how she actually prepared the plant. I have never eaten kohlrabi and don't really know if I want to repeat the planting next season. We tried turnips and Rutabega which neither the wife or I cared for. If there is any similarity in the kohlrabi taste I definitely will not repeat the attempt.
mraider3,
I tried some seed earlier in the year (winter) and had wonderful germination, and growth, but no enlargement of the stem. I have these healthy looking plants with thin stems - about 8" high, and nothing more to show for my trouble.
At the same time I sowed some mustard greens that hardly had any leaves before it went to seed. That made me decide to try gardening according to the moon. My grandparents did it, and surely they wouldn't have wasted time with moon cycles if it didn't work? Anyway, I hope that is the case as I sowed my last seeds yesterday. Now the waiting begins...
I agree with you about the taste of turnips. I bought some, and it ended in the dustbin. I hope it tastes better than turnips. Here is a link on how to prepare them http://germanfood.about.com/od/saladsandsides/ss/kohlrstep.htm . I also read that you can grate it, and eat it like a type of salad - almost like coleslaw.
Will let you know what I think IF I'm lucky enough to get them to swell.
Elsa
Last year I bought some Kohlrabi transplants from the nursery and they did very well.
This year I have started mine from seeds indoor since it is still to hot outside this year. We still eraching 96 degrees F.
As soon as the weather will cool down I will plant them outside. I think they really need good cool weather to do good.
I love them I actually like them better raw than cooked.
I just remove the hard crust outside and slice them. Yummy !!!
I hope I can grow them.
I have started lettuce seeds outside, they did germinate but they don't seem to grow much. I think it is because of the heat. Normally we are 10 degrees cooler at this time of the year !!
This message was edited Sep 20, 2010 7:36 AM
Kohlrabi does well here in the cool weather. It needs plenty of nitrogen to attain a good size stem. If you don't like purple turnips, try growing Scarlett Queen from Johnnys, or the white one with the funny name. They're very mild.
My kohlrabi's stems have started to swell. Hopefully I'll be able to taste them soon...
how long ago did you plant them?
Your spring is starting now, right?
Yes, Spring is in full swing... I sowed them in winter. I'd say about three months ago. I was thinking of pulling them, and then they decided to grow little peas. LOL!
I have harvested my first kohlrabi! It wasn't much bigger than a golf ball, but I just couldn't wait any longer to taste it. It reminded me of radish, but not quite as strong. Quite a civilized taste, I'd say, but not so special (I grow radishes because I like the way they look, and not the taste) that I'd buy some more seed... (By the way, I grew a green variety -can't remember the name - don't know if the purple one taste any different.)
You should have wait a little. I think the larger Kohlrabi is sweeter.
I don't like radishes very much, but I loooove Kohlrabi.
I also use the leaves for in pasta dishes.
Here are my Kohlrabi. So far so good.
I started from seed indoor on September 1st. Move them outside on the 20th.
I have two varieties: Early Vienna and Purple Vienna.
Remember here we are in tha fall ... while you are in the spring time.
Kohlrabi really likes cold weather. They grow crazy in Norway.
I have a few plants left, but I can see they are not impressed with the weather we are having at the moment - it is constantly in the lower to mid 90's. We are expecting a heat wave next week. If they look really bad I'll pull them, and try again next winter. Luckily I have a few seeds left...
Yes ... lucky you with the nice weather.
I have tried some seeds last spring, but I had just leaves and not bulb formation.
Try again in the fall ... definetly Kohlrabi loves cold weather.
This year we had unusual snow in Dallas and my Kohlrabi loved it !!
Kohlrabi does much better in the cool seasons and the hybrids are much sweeter than the open pollinated ones.
Kohlrabi is starting to bulb
FWIW, I agree that Kohlrabi is nice, raw and cooked, I like it cut into thick slices or wedges and steamed, served with butter, salt and pepper.
I think it is sweeter than turnips or rutabaga -- maybe closer to beets.
This was my first year with Kohlrabi, too, and I will never be without it again. I love to eat it like and apple - or sliced/wedgesd and dipped in hummus...or...or...or... ~:-)
I agree ... Mine are almost ready. yeaaahhh
Here is Purple Vienna
I picked my first one this weekend, a Purple Vienna (my favorite).
I picked of the last three on Sunday - before the icey/haily/snowy storm we had yesterday. Hope the remaining feller is ok...alond with his Brussels sprouts neighbors!
It tasted very yummy with dinner last night!