growing big kohlrabi

Itoero · April 16, 2015

What's the secret for growing big kohlrabi?
What kind of fertilizer should I use?
Should I apply a mulch to conserve moisture?

I'm planning to use kelp and a 2-2-2 organic fertilizer.

April 16, 2015

Why do you want to grow big ones? I have found the big ones are woody & tough--much prefer about the size of a small lemon.

Itoero · April 16, 2015

Because I entered a competition

habitat_gardener · April 16, 2015

One of my fellow community gardeners grows huge kohlrabi using seed from Germany. Iirc there's a variety called Giganti/Gigante/Gigant that produces larger than usual kohlrabi.

Tormato · April 17, 2015

Two very large varieties I know of are Granlibakken and Superschmelz. Don't quote me on their spelling.

It was several years ago, so I don't remember which one was nice, crisp and juicy, while the other had the texture of neoprene.

Gary

Itoero · April 17, 2015

I have to grow the delicatesse (blue) Kohlrabi.

I have a fertilizer with vinasse + fishemulsion, npk 5-3-4.
Will that work on kohlrabi?

Itoero · April 17, 2015

I have to grow a purple variety...it will get woody when it grows big.

I often read to give kohlrabi a liquid fertilizer...but what kind?
Which npk should I use to fertiliize kohlrabi?

Wi-sunflower · April 18, 2015

The 2 giant varieties posted above will grow huge. I think I tried Super ?? A few years ago. I don't know if that's the variety a fellow market grower used, but he regularly has things nearly the size of a basketball. And they are good not woody.

If you grow the old Vienna types, yes you have to pull them when they are about tennis ball size or they will be woody. But the hybrids like Grand Duke or Winner can get to about grade school soft ball size and still be good. One trick is that they need to grow fast to be tender. Look at the spacing of the leaves. If they are just about on top of each other they will be tough. If they are nice and wide apart, they will be tender.

There is a newer hybrid purple variety too but I've never tried it and don't know the name.

Carol

Itoero · April 27, 2015

When I plant them in the garden, how deep can I plant them?
Untill the first real leave?

Itoero · June 16, 2015

Is there a way to see if my kohlrabi is fully grown?
They are growing pretty good.

NarnianGarden · June 16, 2015

I would happily harvest that one.

Itoero · July 29, 2015

He's growing huge.
I fertilize him with 3 times the concentration of the fertilizer I give to my tomatoes and peppers.

Itoero · July 30, 2015

My 2 plants have brown spots on the leaves...what can that be?

April 16, 2015	#1
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	growing big kohlrabi What's the secret for growing big kohlrabi? What kind of fertilizer should I use? Should I apply a mulch to conserve moisture? I'm planning to use kelp and a 2-2-2 organic fertilizer.

April 16, 2015	#2
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	Why do you want to grow big ones? I have found the big ones are woody & tough--much prefer about the size of a small lemon.

April 16, 2015	#4
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	One of my fellow community gardeners grows huge kohlrabi using seed from Germany. Iirc there's a variety called Giganti/Gigante/Gigant that produces larger than usual kohlrabi.

April 17, 2015	#5
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Two very large varieties I know of are Granlibakken and Superschmelz. Don't quote me on their spelling. It was several years ago, so I don't remember which one was nice, crisp and juicy, while the other had the texture of neoprene. Gary

April 18, 2015	#8
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	The 2 giant varieties posted above will grow huge. I think I tried Super ?? A few years ago. I don't know if that's the variety a fellow market grower used, but he regularly has things nearly the size of a basketball. And they are good not woody. If you grow the old Vienna types, yes you have to pull them when they are about tennis ball size or they will be woody. But the hybrids like Grand Duke or Winner can get to about grade school soft ball size and still be good. One trick is that they need to grow fast to be tender. Look at the spacing of the leaves. If they are just about on top of each other they will be tough. If they are nice and wide apart, they will be tender. There is a newer hybrid purple variety too but I've never tried it and don't know the name. Carol

April 27, 2015	#9
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	When I plant them in the garden, how deep can I plant them? Untill the first real leave?

June 16, 2015	#10
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	Is there a way to see if my kohlrabi is fully grown? They are growing pretty good.

June 16, 2015	#11
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	I would happily harvest that one.

July 29, 2015	#12
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	He's growing huge. I fertilize him with 3 times the concentration of the fertilizer I give to my tomatoes and peppers.

July 30, 2015	#13
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	My 2 plants have brown spots on the leaves...what can that be?