Crops › Kohlrabi
How to grow Kohlrabi
in the UK
Sow March to July, harvest June to October. About 60 days from seed to plate.
Kohlrabi, now there's a cracking vegetable, a bit like a turnip crossed with a cabbage stem, but much milder. It's a brassica, dead easy to grow, and you'll be chuffed with the flavour, especially when it's fresh off the plot. It does well up here in the North East, handles our weather nicely.
Sowing
Kohlrabi's a doddle to sow, honest. You can get cracking with it from March right through to July. For a steady supply, sow a small batch every couple of weeks, that's what we call successional sowing. You can sow direct into the soil once the worst of the cold has passed, or start indoors in modules for an earlier crop, especially if you want to beat the mid-May last frost up here. Sow about 1-2 cm deep, two seeds per station, then thin to the strongest seedling. Give 'em about 10-15 cm between plants in the row.
Growing on
If you've started your kohlrabi indoors, get them pricked out into their own pots once they've got a couple of true leaves. Give them a good few weeks to harden off outside before planting them out properly. Down here in the North East, that's usually after mid to late May, like. Space them about 20-30 cm apart in rows, with 30 cm between rows. They don't need any special support, just room to grow that nice 'bulb', as some folks call the swollen stem.
Looking after it
Kohlrabi likes a steady supply of moisture, especially when the 'bulb' is swelling. Keep 'em well-watered to stop them getting woody and tough, particularly in dry spells. A bit of general purpose feed every now and then won't go amiss, but they're not too greedy, to be honest. Keep the weeds down too, so they don't compete for water and nutrients.
What goes wrong
Like most brassicas, kohlrabi can get a bit of bother from flea beetle, especially when the seedlings are tiny. You'll see little holes in the leaves. Cabbage white butterflies are another nuisance, laying eggs that turn into hungry caterpillars. A bit of insect mesh or horticultural fleece over them usually keeps the worst of it away, like I say, prevention's better than cure.
Harvest
The cracking thing about kohlrabi is how quick it is, ready in about 60 days from sowing. You want to harvest them when the 'bulb' is about the size of a tennis ball for the best flavour and texture, before they get too big and woody. Just cut them at ground level with a sharp knife. They're best eaten fresh, but you can pop them in the fridge for a week or so if you've got a few extra.
I always try to get a few early ones under a cloche on the plot in March; it gives me a proper head start before the main rush, you know what I mean.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Quickstar F1 This is a cracking fast-maturing white kohlrabi, perfect for getting an early crop. It's a proper quick grower, so ideal if you're keen for an early harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Azur Star A lovely purple variety that adds a splash of colour to your plot and plate. It's quite striking, making it a good choice for something a bit different. | No club votes yet |
| Kolibri F1 This F1 hybrid gives you a reliable crop of attractive purple kohlrabi. It's a good maincrop choice that holds its quality well. | No club votes yet |
| White Vienna A traditional heritage variety, giving you those classic pale green kohlrabi bulbs. It's been a favourite for generations for good reason. | No club votes yet |
| Purple Vienna The purple cousin to White Vienna, offering traditional flavour with a lovely colour. A great heritage choice for a reliable crop. | No club votes yet |
| Gigant Large storage type. | No club votes yet |
| Reuzensuiker This Dutch heritage variety produces huge, sweet kohlrabi, perfect for those who like a generous crop. It's known for its excellent sugary flavour when picked young. | No club votes yet |
| Logo F1 A super quick-growing green kohlrabi, ideal for getting a harvest in a hurry. It's reliable and offers good uniform bulbs. | No club votes yet |
| Delicacy Purple This heritage purple variety offers a lovely tender texture and good colour. It's a reliable choice for a traditional kohlrabi. | No club votes yet |
| Ballot F1 A cracking maincrop F1 hybrid, producing uniform white bulbs that are a joy to grow. You can expect a good, consistent harvest from this one. | No club votes yet |
| Korfu F1 This purple F1 hybrid offers good-sized bulbs and a nice uniform appearance. It's a dependable maincrop variety that looks great on the plate. | No club votes yet |
| Winner A really reliable maincrop variety that gives you good, solid green kohlrabi bulbs. It's a dependable choice for a steady harvest through the season. | No club votes yet |
| Gigant Very large, stays tender. | No club votes yet |
| Express Forcer As the name suggests, this is a cracking early white variety, perfect for an extra-quick crop. It's great for those who want to get kohlrabi on the table sooner rather than later. | No club votes yet |
| Rolando A fantastic maincrop purple kohlrabi, known for its uniform bulbs and good flavour. It's a reliable choice that looks as good as it tastes. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Kohlrabi seeds
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Cook the harvest
Thin-sliced kohlrabi replaces corn tortillas here, acting as crisp, fresh wraps for sticky gochujang-glazed minced pork. The kohlrabi brings a cool, clean crunch that cuts right through the heat and sweetness of the pork — this is a dish that genuinely could not work without it. Quick enough for a weeknight and impressive enough to put in front of friends.
27 min · easyThis is the dish that converts kohlrabi sceptics. Thick wedges are roasted until tender and slightly caramelised, then layered in a bubbling gratin with cream, garlic and plenty of Gruyère. It is rich, deeply savoury and completely satisfying — somewhere between a potato dauphinoise and a cauliflower cheese, but with a flavour that is entirely its own.
75 min · mediumA crisp, refreshing slaw where kohlrabi does the heavy lifting — shredded into thin matchsticks and tossed with tart apple, toasted caraway, and a tangy crème fraîche dressing. This comes together in under 20 minutes and is the kind of side that makes people ask what the secret ingredient is. Perfect alongside grilled meat or fish, or piled into a sandwich.
20 min · easyA hearty, deeply spiced soup where kohlrabi is cut into generous chunks and simmered with red lentils, cumin, turmeric, and a hit of smoked paprika until everything is tender but still has substance. The kohlrabi holds its shape better than potato and gives the soup a slightly peppery sweetness that makes it genuinely interesting. A satisfying bowl for a cool autumn evening with good bread alongside.
45 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Questions people ask
When do you sow Kohlrabi in the UK?
Sow Kohlrabi from March to July.
How long does Kohlrabi take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 60 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Kohlrabi varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Quickstar F1, Azur Star, Kolibri F1, White Vienna and more.
Track your Kohlrabi from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.