🟢 Kohlrabi

How to grow

Direct sow or transplant 4–6 weeks before last frost for spring, or mid-summer for fall — kohlrabi is a cool-season brassica that bolts in heat, so Florida gardeners should treat it as fall/winter only. Sow 1/4–1/2 inch deep. The swollen stem (that's the edible part — it's a stem, not a root, which is the kind of trivia that wins bar bets) forms above ground.

Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest. Keep soil evenly moist or the bulbs turn woody and split — kohlrabi has zero chill about inconsistent water. In hot climates, afternoon shade extends the season.

Water & feeding

Steady moisture is everything — 1 inch per week minimum. Mulch to hold evenness. Feed lightly: worm castings worked into the bed at planting is usually enough; kohlrabi is a light feeder that gets woody and bitter if over-fertilized with nitrogen.

Common problems

• Cabbage worms and loopers: Bt spray, or row cover from day one — the simplest solution is often just keeping the moths off.
• Splitting: caused by irregular water after drought. Mulch and consistent irrigation prevent the boom-bust cycle.
• Root maggots: row cover at planting; rotate brassicas so you're not serving the same crop to the same pests yearly.

Harvest

Pull when bulbs are 2–3 inches across — tennis-ball size is perfect. Bigger than that and they go woody and fibrous, like chewing a baseball. Twist off leaves (they're edible too — cook like collards) and store bulbs in the fridge for weeks.