Vegetable Gardens

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi

Known as stem turnip, kohlrabi is a rapid-maturing, cool-season vegetable that can be grown in both the spring and fall garden. This vegetable is not widely grown by Southern gardeners even though the hybrid variety, Grand Duke, was named an All America Selection in 1979.

Kohlrabi grows very well in Mississippi and is becoming popular as an alternative to chips for snack food. Thinly sliced raw roots are used with dips.

Thin seedlings to stand about 4 inches apart. Keep plants watered and fertilized so they won’t become woody. The swollen stem can reach several inches in diameter but should be harvested at the 2-inch size.

Varieties

• Grand Duke—hybrid; early; vigorous; 50 days; AAS 1979.
• Purple Vienna—leaves and stem purple; stem flesh white; 55 days.
• White Vienna—standard variety; light green; 55 days.