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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://harvesttotable.com/harvest-store-kohlrabi/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSHQYDBstbc, https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/vegetables/growing-kohlrabi-zw0z1401zsto, https://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-kohlrabi/, https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cut-up-kohlrabi-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-205838, https://getbusygardening.com/10-ways-use-kohlrabi-fresh-garden/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Plant extra kohlrabi if you want to save seeds. Kohlrabi leaves can be harvested for the table; cook them like you would other greens. 1. So check the seed packet to know the exact dates. Those in cooler climates can also plant kohlrabi in midsummer for a fall harvest. Trim the leaves from the stem before cooking or storing. Kohlrabi reaches harvest maturity 45 to 60 days after seeds germinate. Harvest giant kohlrabi varieties when they are 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) in diameter. Garden-stored kohlrabi can freeze once or twice in winter and still be edible. Ideally, harvest your … Enjoy your homegrown kohlrabi all year round. The bulb sits on the top of the soil so it's easy to check. Harvesting Kohlrabi Leaves. The fruit will become tough and fibrous if allowed to mature too much. in diameter. Lift kohlrabi from your garden when the mid-stem bulbs swell to 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Grow kohlrabi as a cool-weather annual crop in full sun. The leaves are also edible and cook up like collard greens. Wash greens well before eating. Shake off any excess soil from the roots. Store with its leaves and kohlrabi will last a couple of weeks. Raw kohlrabi can be grated and used in salads, the bulb can be chopped finely and incorporated into soups. Made into fritters. Sow seeds, 1cm (½in) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart from late February (under cloches or fleece) to early March, continuing until mid-August in warmer areas. Kohlrabi is gaining in popularity due to its nutritional benefits: fat-free, low sodium, low calorie, high in vitamin c and fiber. Bulbs are sweet and ready to eat as soon as they are 2-3 inches across, though some Kohlrabi bulbs can reach 8 to 10 inches. Remove your kohlrabi before they are the size of a tennis ball. Learn how to select and store kohlrabi so you can add this healthy European vegetable to your next meal. Kohlrabi can be continuously harvested, up until the stems are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm.) The peak kohlrabi harvest season is mid-spring to mid-fall. The bulb is the most important part of your kohlrabi harvest. We don’t … You can use a clean knife to cut off the leaves or pull them and the will separate from the bulb. Harvesting kohlrabi is very straightforward. In warmer southern climates, plant in the fall for a winter harvest. Eating: Kohlrabi bulbs can be used in a variety of ways. Learn more... Kohlrabi is rapidly growing in popularity. Here on the Canadian prairies (zone 3) we typically plant kohlrabi seedlings outside in mid to end May and harvest in early July. The base should be free of cracks. Harvest To Table This should remove your kohlrabi plant from the soil. You can trim the leaves from the stem and save them to cook separately. A serrated knife is the most effective for harvesting kohlrabi. Ideally, you should plant it so it comes to harvest before average daytime temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If there is no room in the refrigerator, kohlrabi can also be packed in a container—a bucket or plastic storage box or cooler–in moist sand, peat moss, or sawdust. Note that kohlrabi plants thrive in temperatures between 40 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and take between 45 to 60 days to mature, so plan accordingly depending on where you live. Shred it and mix with an egg and a few tablespoons of flour or breadcrumbs. Cut the stem just above the soil line. Privacy Policy. Thin plants to 6-8 inches apart when seedlings are 2-3 inches tall. wikiHow's. Take no more than one-third of the foliage when you harvest kohlrabi greens. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep. Harvest. Kohlrabi stems can be eaten raw or cooked like turnips. Cold and moist storage is a challenge. Harvest kohlrabi is when the first stem is 1 inch (2.5 cm.) Cut into cubes to roast. This article has been viewed 10,546 times. Where summers are hot, grow kohlrabi in fall and winter. It's known as the apple of the vegetables due to its sweetness, and the German turnip because of its origin. The leaves may be bitter if your kohlrabi is grown in a warmer climate. This brings out the the sweetness in the kohlrabi. As this how to grow kohlrabi guide has shown, kohlrabi can be harvested in two ways: either by pulling the entire plant or by cutting the base and thus leaving the root intact. The leaves can be eaten raw or steamed just tender. Kohlrabi seeds do not grow in the first year. How to Harvest Kohlrabi. You can harvest the leaves of the plant well before the base is mature. The 5 surprising ways you can stop feeling financially trapped. Kohlrabi can also be added to recipes for cream of potato, cream of broccoli, and even cream of mushroom soup! As long as you know best when to harvest kohlrabi, you’ll have plants with a milder, sweeter flavor. Storage and Preservation Methods. Winter harvest. The best time to harvest kohlrabi is when the bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter, about 45-60 days after planting. For a fall crop, plan your harvest for a week or two after the first fall frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in double rows set 1.5 feet apart. For a continuous harvest, plant kohlrabi every 2-3 weeks. Keep your kohlrabi longer (8-10 months) by storing it in the freezer. Luckily, harvesting kohlrabi is incredibly simple. This is a great way to get kids to eat their kohlrabi! Small to medium-sized bulbs will be sweet and tender. WHEN AND HOW TO HARVEST KOHLRABI Read the seed packet to work out how long your variety will take to mature but in general they take fifteen weeks or so from seed sowing to maturity. The stem should be about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) in diameter, and the bulbs will be big and healthy-looking. It’s rather tough to tell when your kohlrabi is mature, as there is no color change to indicate ripeness, so you have to rely on the size of the bulb to determine when to harvest. Cut the leaves off rather than pulling, to prevent injury to the bulb. Cut them off at the base of the stem with a sharp knife. Kohlrabi takes 55 days to mature. This size should be reached in 50 to 75 days after the seeds have sprouted. Harvesting kohlrabi is quite simple. They can be blanched and added to salads or steamed as a nutritious side dish. Cut into slices to eat raw or add to a salad. Bulbs that are allowed to grow too big will gain an undesirable woody taste. (Turnips that form bulbs below the soil are best harvested at about the same size.) Once the stem reaches 3 inches in diameter, cut the bulb form the root with a sharp knife. Harvest before the flowers become too mature. When you harvest your stems for storage, don’t waste the leaves that you cut off. A refrigerator is cold but the air is dry. How to Harvest Kohlrabi. Harvest kohlrabi by pulling up the entire plant. It’s better to harvest early rather than late. They will start to break and attract birds. If you cut the kohlrabi in small pieces, it can be stored in an airtight plastic container or plastic bag. Remove your frozen kohlrabi when you want to use it to cook in soups, stews and stir-fries. Place kohlrabi in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section. Best used fresh and will keep for up to a week if kept cool. Harvest your kohlrabi when the bulbs are 2–4 inches (7–10 cm). 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