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Harvest your kohlrabi when the bulbs are 2–4 inches (7–10 cm). Pick the bulbs that are the size of a golf ball. The bulb sits on the top of the soil so it’s easy to check. Remove your kohlrabi before they are the size of a tennis ball. The larger the kohlrabi bulb gets, the more woody and tough it is to eat.
How do you know when kohlrabi is ripe?
Kohlrabi is ready to harvest when its bulb is 1 to 3 inches in diameter, or about the size of a tennis ball. Do not pick the vegetable in warm weather, as the root becomes woody. Kohlrabi leaves are also edible. Boil them or use them in salads.
Will kohlrabi grow back after harvesting?
Yes, a kohlrabi plant will grow back after harvesting if you leave the bottom part of the stem in the ground. However, it is technically a biannual. That means, it will flower and set seed the second year, rather than producing another edible stem.
How big should kohlrabi be before you pick it?
Unfortunately, many gardeners allow kohlrabi to grow too large before harvesting it. Large, older kohlrabi is tough and woody and it may have an off-flavor. Begin harvesting (pull or cut at ground level) when the first stems are about one inch in diameter. Continue harvest until the stems are 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
Should I refrigerate kohlrabi?
The best way to store this vegetable is to remove any leaves (and reserve them for later – they are quite tasty as well) and keep the bulb in the fridge, wrapped in a moist kitchen towel or in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer. This will keep your kohlrabi crunchy for about a week.
Does kohlrabi come back every year?
Kohlrabi is a perennial, cool season vegetable, mostly grown as an annual for its edible stem.
Can you eat kohlrabi raw?
Kohlrabi is equally tasty raw or cooked. Brad likes to thinly shave the peeled, raw bulbs into matchsticks (you can use a mandoline for help with this) and toss them into a slaw.
Can you eat kohlrabi leaves Raw?
Kohlrabi is a cruciferous vegetable, just like cabbage, broccoli and kale. The leaves are all edible (the freshest kohlrabi will still have the leaves attached, which can be eaten raw or cooked like any greens).
Why is my kohlrabi bolting?
Temperature and Humidity. Like many cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi grows best in cool weather. When summer temperatures arrive, kohlrabi is done growing. Plants you didn’t get around to harvesting will be prompted by warm weather to bolt, or produce flowers.
How long does kohlrabi last in ground?
Kohlrabi that matures in cool weather can remain in the ground until temperatures fall into the 20°sF (-6°C). Garden-stored kohlrabi can freeze once or twice in winter and still be edible.
Is kohlrabi a biennial?
Kohlrabi is a biennial plant that is usually grown as a cool-season annual. The waxy lobed or wavy leaves emerge from the swollen stem and feature long petioles (leaf stems). The edible stem can be green, white, or purple, depending on the variety.
Can you leave bulbs in the ground all year?
Bulb After-Care Most bulbs can be left underground all year or stored inside after they’ve bloomed. To keep long-stem tulips and hyacinths hardy, lift up the larger bulbs and replant them the following fall. (If left in the ground, they’ll typically get smaller each year.)May 21, 2002.
How big does kohlrabi get?
Kohlrabi can grow 6 to 18 inches (15.2 to 45.7 centimeters) tall, 12 to 18 inches (30.5 to 45.7 centimeters) wide, and produce bulbs up to 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) in diameter. Of course, the quality of your kohlrabi (if you get any at all!) depends on the care that you give your plants.
When should you eat kohlrabi?
While the kohlrabi bulbs are what you’ll usually see being sold, don’t pass up an opportunity to pick them up if you see the greens still attached — they’re delicious and can be eaten raw in salad if they’re young and tender, or sautéed or steamed like mustard greens.
Can you eat kohlrabi after it flowers?
The bulb is an extension of the leaves. They are edible and can be delicious if harvested at the right moment. Kohlrabi leaves grown in colder temperatures can be eaten like cabbage.
How do you store raw kohlrabi?
If you aren’t going to eat them the day they were harvested, trim the leaves from the stem and then place them in a Ziploc baggie with a damp paper towel in the crisper of your refrigerator. Storing kohlrabi leaves in this manner will keep them fresh and edible for about a week.
How long can you keep kohlrabi in the fridge?
Kohlrabis keep best in the fridge in your crisper. They are a long-lasting vegetable and will store for up to 3 weeks! The bulbs should remain firm and tender if kept cold. When you are ready to eat, there are a few ways that you can slice them up.
Does kohlrabi go bad?
Kohlrabi has a low shelf life and is sensitive to heat. The vegetable has many uses in both domestic and in restaurants. Thus, the vegetable needs to be stored correctly or end up in a couple of days.
How cold can kohlrabi tolerate?
Kohlrabi grows best in cool temperatures between 40°F and 75°F (4.4°C and 23.9°C). Kohlrabi requires 45 to 60 days to reach maturity. In warm winter regions, sow kohlrabi in late summer for winter harvest. Kohlrabi can withstand an early autumn frost.
What do you plant after kohlrabi?
Good companion plants for kohlrabi are brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, onions, garlic, cauliflowers, beets, cucumbers, celery, potatoes, shallots, mustard, thyme, broccoli and lettuce. You should not plant kohlrabis with sunflowers, beans, tomatoes, melons, pumpkins and strawberries.
Does kohlrabi go to seed?
Kohlrabi is a biennial, meaning it won’t go to seed until its second year of life. Which meant in order for us to gather seeds, we’d need to keep it alive during the winter.
