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Variety profile · Kohlrabi

Kolibri: een plek in jouw tuin

Ontdek Kolibri en kies hoe je koolrabi wilt kweken. Hieronder staan de bevestigde rasgegevens en de praktische teeltgids voor deze groente.

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AI illustration of Kolibri
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Harvested part
Swollen stem above ground
Harvest size
Usually young; follow cultivar information
Growing location
Sunny bed or roomy planter

This growing advice helps you choose. Your variety, growth stage, weather and conditions in your space determine the actual timing.

A good start

Sowing under cover and raising seedlings

Start under cover in cool conditions in modules or a seedbed · Kohlrabi

March–May, only for a suitable harvest typeSow somewhere cool and bright and avoid long, weak growth.

Germination and temperature
Germinate under cover, then grow on in cool, bright, well-ventilated conditions; avoid a hot growing space.
After emergence
Give seedlings light immediately after emergence. A dark loft needs suitable grow lights; warmth alone is insufficient. Ventilate and keep the compost moist without saturating it.
Pricking out and potting on
Sow in modules or prick out manageable young plants. Let the root ball firm up without a check in growth.
Hardening off and planting out
Gradually acclimatise indoor-raised plants to sun, wind and outdoor temperatures; shelter them again on cold nights. Plant out sturdy young brassicas and protect against cabbage root fly and caterpillars where needed.

Harvest young and prevent drought checks; repeat small sowings within the cultivar’s window.

Sources and use

RHS · koolrabi ↗Britse teeltrichtlijn voor een gematigd klimaat; de genoemde perioden zijn richtlijnen voor Nederland en Vlaanderen.

Royal Horticultural Society · Koolrabi kweken ↗Soort- of productgebonden bron; buitenlandse perioden zijn geen vaste Nederlandse zaaidatum.

Utah State University Extension · Kohlrabi in the garden ↗Soort- of productgebonden bron; buitenlandse perioden zijn geen vaste Nederlandse zaaidatum.

Guideline periods for the Netherlands and Flanders. Check the variety, available light, soil and measured temperatures. Greenhouse heating does not guarantee enough winter light.

Compare how to raise other vegetables →
How it could look in your garden

How to grow kohlrabi

The options below belong to the plant. From these, choose the method that suits your variety's growth habit.

AI illustration of kleine opeenvolgende rijen
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Small successive rows

A few short rows spread harvesting through the season.

  1. Sow thinly in the final position in the recommended variety window.
  2. Thin early and allow room for the swollen stem.
  3. Harvest young and start another round only if the season still suits.

For a small bed where you prefer regular harvesting to one large harvest.

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AI illustration of koolrabi in een balkonbak
AI illustration

This image was created with AI from described plant characteristics and growing advice. It shows a possible situation and is not a photograph of a verified cultivar.

Kohlrabi in a balcony container

A large container lets you observe bulb formation closely.

  1. Choose a container with drainage and plant young plants with intact rootballs.
  2. Allow around 15 cm or suitable variety spacing for a young harvest.
  3. Water precisely and cut the swollen stem once it reaches the desired size.

For young harvests in a bright spot; large varieties need more space.

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Choose by flavour, shape and use

Azur Star: Azur Star is early kohlrabi with a blue-purple exterior and white interior. The slightly flattened swelling grows above ground. Peel the swollen stem for raw strips or cut it into pieces for cooking. The coloured skin does not represent the whole interior.

The product source describes a mild, nutty flavour. This offers a concrete point of reference without making every growing result identical.

Delikatess blauw: Delikatess blauw has a blue swollen stem and purple-green leaves. The source describes later development than Delikatess wit. Use peeled bulbs raw in a salad or cook in small pieces. Cut into an older bulb first to assess its texture.

No separate aroma description is confirmed for this cultivar. General kohlrabi use is better supported than a distinctive flavour claim.

Delikatess wit: Pale kohlrabi with edible swelling above ground. The source emphasises tenderness. Thinly slice peeled stems raw or add cubes to stew. Young harvesting gives more preparation freedom.

The product source describes a good flavour without a specific aroma profile. Tenderness is a texture characteristic and does not prove extra sweetness.

The swollen bulb is actually a stem

Kohlrabi does not form an underground root tuber like some other vegetables. The round swelling grows above ground and carries leaves. Do not bury it or earth up the plant to get a larger bulb. Green and purple are visible variations; desired harvest size and texture also depend on cultivar.

Choose a suitable small sowing round

Kohlrabi suits moderate conditions. Follow variety timing and avoid prolonged cold for young raised plants. A meal portion needs no whole bed sown at once. A short row gives a manageable trial of growth speed and harvest size.

Sow directly or move a whole root ball

Direct sowing is easy in a ready bed. Modules make early care manageable, but do not leave plants root-bound in small cells. Harden off and transplant intact root balls at roughly their existing depth, growing point free.

Thin before the stems touch

Young harvests may allow about 15 cm between plants; large varieties need more. Match variety and desired size and thin promptly. Spacing matters especially in containers with shared limited soil and leaves hiding moisture checks.

Let growth continue steadily

Water at bases during drought. Major moisture swings can reduce quality and interrupt growth. Check below surfaces, especially during swelling. Weed shallowly. Soil preparation before growing is more useful than repeated emergency feeding during stress.

Inspect holes and distortion closely

Tiny young-leaf holes may be flea beetles; larger damage needs caterpillar checks. Use closed mesh if needed and inspect beneath. Poor growth can reflect cold, drought or roots. Whole-plant and detail photos help distinguish causes.

Harvest young kohlrabi before it turns tough

Many ordinary varieties suit eating around 5–8 cm across. Some large varieties stay tender longer; consult specific data. Cut swollen stems and remove coarse leaves. Do not let the largest plant set all timing. Compare smaller and larger kohlrabi in cooking.

Use the fresh leaves too

Cook healthy young leaves as cabbage greens. Peel the swollen stem and eat raw or cooked. Cool and use promptly for fresh texture. Note your preferred size beside the row as guidance for the next sowing.

Ready to begin

What you need

Tick what you already have. The extras depend on how you grow.

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The basics
Propagation
Protection
Optional
Harvesting

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More background, sources and image information

SeedSteps editorial team · updated on 11 October 2026. The AI images illustrate species and practical growing situations; they do not prove an exact cultivar, observations from your own garden or yield.

Britse gewasadviezen worden gecombineerd met Nederlandse en Vlaamse informatie waar beschikbaar. Amerikaanse Extension-bronnen ondersteunen plantprincipes en herkenning; hun kalenderdata, lokale plaagdruk, bestrijdingsmiddelen en mestdoseringen worden niet rechtstreeks op Nederland of Vlaanderen toegepast. Vorst, bodemwarmte, standplaats en expliciete rasinformatie blijven de lokale controle. Commerciële bronnen onderbouwen uitsluitend benoemde ras- en plantkenmerken; zij zijn geen affiliate-aanbeveling.

  1. World Checklist of Vascular Plants — 4 juni 2026Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · accessed 2026-10-07
  2. Common catalogue of varieties of vegetable species — 27 januari 2023Europese Commissie · accessed 2026-10-07
  3. Koolrabi Azur Star BiologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  4. Koolrabi Delikatess blauw zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  5. Koolrabi Delikatess wit zaden biologischFeggies · accessed 2026-10-11
  6. Koolrabi kwekenRoyal Horticultural Society · accessed 2026-10-10
  7. Kohlrabi in the gardenUtah State University Extension · accessed 2026-10-10

Supporting evidence by chapter: Choose by flavour, shape and use: Feggies, Feggies, Feggies. The swollen bulb is actually a stem: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Choose a suitable small sowing round: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Sow directly or move a whole root ball: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Thin before the stems touch: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Let growth continue steadily: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Inspect holes and distortion closely: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Harvest young kohlrabi before it turns tough: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension. Use the fresh leaves too: Royal Horticultural Society, Utah State University Extension.