Growing Kohlrabis

GROW YOUR OWN KOHLRABI (German turnip)

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea), also referred to as German turnip, is the same species as brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.Kohlrabi is a unique and lovely addition to any vegetable garden, with its colorful swollen stem and rosette of blue-green leaves. Kohlrabi is an odd-looking member of the cabbage family grown for its bulb-like stem that tastes like a mild, sweet turnip. You can also eat the leaves. High in fiber and vitamin C, kohlrabi is a fast-growing, cool-season crop for both spring and fall.

Sowing And Planting

• The kohlrabi plant is easy to grow, usually quite productive, and often accepted as a substitute for turnips.
• When growing from seeds, sow outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked, sowing seeds at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Make sure to place the seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep into the soil about two to five inches apart if planting seeds directly outside.
• Otherwise you can start planting seedlings indoors. .Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in a seed bed.
• The seedlings will appear within two weeks, thin the seedlings to 5 to 6 inches when they're large enough to handle. 
• Choose a site in your garden which receives plenty of sunshine. After four to six weeks, plant the baby plants outdoors in well drained, rich soil.
• You can have a continuous crop if you plant your kohlrabi every two to three weeks. Also, when growing kohlrabi, you want to make sure to keep the soil well watered or you will end up with woody stemmed plants that are too tough.
• Kohlrabi doesn’t need a deep soil, as it is the stem that grows into a bulb. A well-drained soil that’s watered regularly is quite beneficial. Also plenty of compost and manure or a general purpose fertiliser will help to promote quick growth.

Harvesting And Storage

• It can usually be harvested in 8-10 weeks. 
• Kohlrabi forms an interesting bulb that sits just above the soil surface. The bulbs have several stems that jut out forming the leaves of the plant. 
• It is grown for the delicious bulb and its leaves..
• When the swollen stem enlarges to 2 to 3 inches in diameter, harvest kohlrabi by cutting at ground level.

Few Health Benefits Of Kohlrabi

• High In Vitamin C- Kohlrabi contains 140% the DV of vitamin C per one cup serving. Fresh kohlrabi stem is a particularly good source of the powerful antioxidant.
• Weight Loss- Kohlrabi has a great nutrient to calorie ratio, only 36 calories per cup of raw vegetable. It is also high in dietary fiber, which helps promote a healthy metabolism and regulates body weight. This makes it a healthy component of any effective weight loss program.
• Digestive Health- One cup of kohlrabi provides 19% the DV of fiber. Fiber helps aid in digestion, promotes regular bowel movements and helps maintain a healthy metabolism and strong intestines.
• Assists in Proper Muscle and Nerve Functions- A cup of raw kohlrabi contains 14% of the RDA for potassium. Potassium’s main role is associated with muscle and nerve functions. It assists in storing carbohydrates, which are used as fuel by the muscles. Nerve transmissions and nerve excitability relies heavily on an adequate level of potassium in the body.

Mashed Kohlrabi and Carrots Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 small kohlrabi, peeled and diced
• 4 small carrots, cleaned and diced
• 4 Tbsp butter
• Dill, fresh, chopped, or maybe try cardamom or nutmeg or something
• Salt and Pepper 

Directions

• Boiled the peeled kohlrabi and diced carrots  for 15 minutes.
• Drain the water completely and then add the butter, and mash the veggies into a paste. You don't have to mash all the way.  Sprinkle the dill in, and then garnished on top. 
• Add Salt and pepper to taste.