The Ultimate (and Slightly Humorous) Guide to Growing and Saving Kohlrabi Seeds
Kohlrabi: part alien spaceship, part vegetable, 100% delicious. Also known as German turnip or turnip cabbage, this quirky-looking veggie is basically what happens when cabbage decides it wants to be a root vegetable but then changes its mind halfway through. Whether you’re growing it for its crunchy, slightly sweet bulb or saving its seeds for future harvests, here’s everything you need to know—sprinkled with a little humor to keep things fun.
How to Grow Kohlrabi (Without Losing Your Mind)
Time to Plant
- Kohlrabi is one of those cool-season crops that doesn’t demand much from you.
- Plant seeds directly outside just after the last frost, or if you’re feeling impatient, start them inside a few weeks before the frost and transplant them later.
- Want a fall crop? Direct sow seeds about 90 days before the first frost so your kohlrabi can enjoy the crisp autumn air.
- If transplanting in spring, put those babies outside about 1-2 weeks before your last frost date.
Spacing Requirements
- Bury seeds ¼ inch deep—no need to tuck them in, they’re tough.
- Space plants 9-12 inches apart. Give them room to do their thing.
Time to Germination
- Expect sprouts in 3-10 days, depending on how patient your kohlrabi seeds are feeling.
Special Considerations
- Kohlrabi does not like loose, fluffy soil. It prefers a firm foundation, much like your overachieving friend who plans their entire week down to the minute.
Common Pests and How to Outsmart Them
- Flea beetles love kohlrabi almost as much as you do. These tiny, hopping nuisances can be kept at bay with a simple row cover.
- Unlike your cat, kohlrabi actually appreciates being covered with a thin layer of protection.
Harvesting Kohlrabi: When and How to Reap Your Hard Work
- The best time to harvest is when the bulb reaches about 3 inches in diameter—any bigger, and it might start plotting world domination (or just get too tough and woody to eat).
- Cut the stem just above the soil line. No need to yank—this isn’t a game of tug-of-war.
Eating Kohlrabi: The Many Ways to Devour This Oddly Adorable Vegetable
- Eat it raw! Grate it into salads or slice it up and dip it in hummus like a snack-time champion.
- Finely chop it and toss it into soups.
- Steam it, roast it, or turn it into fritters because, let’s be real, everything tastes better fried.
- The greens? Yep, they’re edible too—just like kale but less trendy.
Storing Kohlrabi
- Toss it in the fridge, and it’ll stay fresh for several weeks. That’s longer than most of your grocery store veggies, and definitely longer than your willpower to avoid eating it.
How to Save Kohlrabi Seeds (A.K.A. The Circle of Life, Garden Edition)
Kohlrabi belongs to the same plant family as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. This means it has commitment issues—it won’t flower until its second year. So if you want seeds, you’ve got to be patient.
Life Cycle
- Biennial (a fancy word for "you won’t see flowers until year two").
Recommended Isolation Distance
- Keep different kohlrabi varieties 800 feet to ½ mile apart unless you want some surprise hybrids (which, to be fair, could be fun).
Recommended Population Sizes
- For viable seeds: Save seeds from at least 5 plants.
- For long-term variety maintenance: Save seeds from 20-50 plants.
- For serious seed-saving pros preserving rare varieties: Go big and save seeds from 80 plants.
Vernalization: The Secret to Getting Kohlrabi to Flower
Since kohlrabi takes its sweet time to bloom, you’ll need to give it a period of cold weather (a.k.a. vernalization). There are two ways to do this:
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Overwintering in the Garden:
- If your winters hover around 50°F (but not much below 35°F), just leave your kohlrabi in the ground. It’ll chill out—literally—until it’s ready to bloom in spring.
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Storing for the Winter:
- If your winters are too brutal, dig up the plant before the first frost, roots and all.
- Trim the outer leaves but keep the growing point intact.
- Store plants in slightly moist potting mix or sand at 34-39°F with 80-95% humidity.
- Traditional root cellars are ideal, but a garage, shed, or unheated basement can work too.
- In spring, replant them in your garden with at least 36 inches of space between plants.
Seed Maturity: When to Harvest the Future of Your Kohlrabi Kingdom
- In their second year, kohlrabi plants will finally flower and produce seed pods. It’s like watching your kid go off to college—except way cheaper.
- When seed pods turn brown and dry, they’re ready for harvest.
- Warning: The window for harvesting is short! If you wait too long, pods may shatter, and birds will have a kohlrabi seed buffet.
Harvesting Seeds
- Cut entire branches or pull up whole plants.
- Work over a drop cloth or container to catch any rebellious seeds that try to escape.
Cleaning and Processing
- Dry pods? Perfect. Just rub them between your hands or smack them against a hard surface to break them open.
- If the pods are properly dry, the seeds will spill out easily.
Storing Seeds Like a Pro
- Store your kohlrabi seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place in an airtight container.
- Properly stored seeds can stay viable for several years—long enough for you to forget where you put them and then rediscover them like buried treasure.
Final Thoughts: Kohlrabi is Weird but Wonderful
Growing kohlrabi is like befriending the weird kid at school—you may not understand it at first, but once you do, you’ll realize it’s pretty awesome. With its UFO-like appearance, delicious flavor, and easy-going nature, kohlrabi deserves a spot in your garden. Whether you’re eating it fresh or saving its seeds for future harvests, this humble vegetable is well worth the effort.
Now go forth and grow some kohlrabi! Your future self will thank you—especially when you’re enjoying homegrown fritters in the middle of winter.