When to Plant Kohlrabi
Sow kohlrabi outside 1 to 4 weeks before your last frost, and again 7 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost for a fall crop.
Kohlrabi at a glance
- Sow outside
- 1 to 4 weeks before your last frost
- Fall sowing
- 7 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost
- Time to harvest
- 45 to 60 days from sowing
- Harvest lasts
- about 4 weeks
- Spacing
- 4 per square foot
- Frost
- Takes hard frosts
Growing kohlrabi
Kohlrabi grows fast in cool weather and needs little room. Sow the seeds half an inch deep or set out young plants, and keep the soil moist so the bulbs stay tender. Purple and green kinds taste much the same.
Dates by hardiness zone
Typical dates for each zone; your ZIP code gives your own.
| Zone | Sow | Sow for fall | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 30 – May 21 | Jul 6–27 | Jun 14 – Jul 20 · Aug 20 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 19 – May 10 | Jul 17 – Aug 7 | Jun 3 – Jul 9 · Aug 31 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 4a | Apr 14 – May 5 | Jul 20 – Aug 10 | May 29 – Jul 4 · Sep 3 – Oct 9 |
| Zone 4b | Apr 10 – May 1 | Jul 23 – Aug 13 | May 25 – Jun 30 · Sep 6 – Oct 12 |
| Zone 5a | Apr 5–26 | Jul 27 – Aug 17 | May 20 – Jun 25 · Sep 10 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 5b | Apr 3–24 | Aug 1–22 | May 18 – Jun 23 · Sep 15 – Oct 21 |
| Zone 6a | Apr 1–22 | Aug 7–28 | May 16 – Jun 21 · Sep 21 – Oct 27 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 | May 10 – Jun 15 · Sep 27 – Nov 2 |
| Zone 7a | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 | May 3 – Jun 8 · Sep 30 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 7b | Mar 8–29 | Aug 23 – Sep 13 | Apr 22 – May 28 · Oct 7 – Nov 12 |
| Zone 8a | Mar 1–22 | Aug 29 – Sep 19 | Apr 15 – May 21 · Oct 13 – Nov 18 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 17 – Mar 10 | Sep 4–25 | Apr 3 – May 9 · Oct 19 – Nov 24 |
| Zone 9a | Feb 2–23 | Sep 17 – Oct 8 | Mar 19 – Apr 24 · Nov 1 – Dec 7 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4–25 | Oct 6–27 | Feb 18 – Mar 26 · Nov 20 – Dec 26 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 27 – Jan 17 | Oct 18 – Nov 8 | Feb 10 – Mar 18 · Dec 2 – Jan 7 |
| Zones 10b–11b | Frost is rare here, so grow kohlrabi in the cooler months, from fall to early spring. | ||
Questions about kohlrabi
What part of kohlrabi do I eat?
The round, swollen stem just above the soil, and the young leaves too. Peel the stem and eat it raw or cooked; it tastes like a mild, sweet cabbage heart.
Can kohlrabi grow in a pot?
Yes. It is compact and quick, so a pot or a corner of a bed is enough. Keep it watered for tender bulbs.
