PlantFiles: Kohlrabi
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes 'Early Purple Vienna'

Creamy/peppery taste like broccoli stems in an easy to harvest and prepare form; one of the easiest brassicas to grow. Strong performer even with significant cabbage worm damage to the leaves, which can be controlled with one or two applications of Dipel (Bacillus thuringensis v kurstaki). Kohlrabi may split if rains are heavy. Will hold in garden most of the winter for fresh harvesting as needed.

Grows well in Los Alamos, NM where it enjoys the cool climate. It is a beautiful plant as well. My neighbors love its looks. They call it the plant that looks like little flying saucers. Very tasty as well.

This a 19th century cultivar that hasn't improved much over time. It is like a turnip that grows above ground. Taste is almost identical to the core of a cabbage. Cabbage cores were highly prized when I was a kid. This one is about a week later then White Vienna and larger , about the size of a Purple Top White Globe turnip but the flesh is harder. Here it can be grown only in the very early spring/late winter or overwintered. It does not tolerate heat. Approx 60 days from seed.