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Homestead Toolbelt

Kohlrabi: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates

Plant count & yield calculator

Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.

Enter bed size to count plants.

Seed starting dates

Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Kohlrabi with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 18, transplant ~Apr 8, direct sow ~Mar 25 .

Local noon math — no timezone day-shift.

Pick a last frost date for the schedule.

About kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is an underrated brassica that forms a crisp, mild-flavored stem bulb above ground, ready to eat raw or cooked in just 55 days.

Spacing & yield

Kohlrabi wants 6×12 inches and about 0.5 lb per plant at ~55 days to maturity.

Growing tips

  • Harvest when bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter for best texture — larger ones turn woody.
  • Succession-sow in spring and again in late summer for two crops.
  • Thin seedlings to 6 inches early; crowded kohlrabi produces stringy, undersized bulbs.
  • Peel the outer skin before eating raw in slaws or cooked in stir-fries.

Common mistakes

  • Letting bulbs grow past tennis-ball size, resulting in tough, fibrous flesh.
  • Forgetting to thin direct-sown seedlings to proper 6-inch spacing.
  • Growing in summer heat, which makes bulbs crack and turn bitter.

Harvest & storage

Cut the bulb from the root when 2-3 inches across, about 55 days from sowing.

Remove leaves and refrigerate bulbs for 2-3 weeks; they keep well in root-cellar conditions.

Companion planting

Good neighbors for kohlrabi: beets, celery, cucumbers, onions. Avoid planting beside: tomatoes, peppers, strawberries.

Planting calendar

Start indoors about 4 weeks before last frost, then transplant 1 weeks before frost. Direct sow is also an option around 3 weeks before frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).

Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.

Frequently asked questions

How far apart is kohlrabi planted?
Space 6 inches in-row with 12 inches between rows; this quick-growing crop fits well in succession plantings.
How much does one kohlrabi yield?
Each plant produces a single bulb weighing about 0.5 lb at ideal harvest size.
How fast does kohlrabi grow?
One of the fastest brassicas at roughly 55 days from seed to harvest — faster than broccoli or cabbage.