[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]

How to Grow Kohl Rabi (Kohlrabi) in Ireland.
By Terry Blackburn

Growing Kohl Rabi.
This vegetable is a member of the turnip family and, for that reason, is also called cabbage turnip. Like the turnip, both its purple-tinged, or white bulblike swollen stem and its greens are edible. The kohl rabi bulb tastes like a mild, sweet turnip with a slight nutty flavour. It's available from mid-spring to mid autumn. Those roots that are about 3 in. (76mm) in diameter are grown above the ground and are very tender.

It must be encouraged to grow quickly so that it will be tender, therefore it must be grown in fertile, moisture, retentive soil, in a position where it will get plenty of sun.

Soil Preparation.
Kohl Rabi will grow on most soils providing it is well cultivated and preferably alkaline; it will tolerate a pH in the range 4.5 to 7.5. It does best in soils, which were well manured, for a previous crop. At the time of sowing add a dressing of fish manure with 6 per cent potash content at 3 oz. (90g) to the sq. yd.

After forking over the soil lightly, tread the ground making it firm, and then add fish manure at 3 oz. (90g) to the sq. yd. If the soil is not limy, give carbonate of lime at 6 oz. (180g) to the sq. yd. as a top dressing.

White and purple Kohl Rabi, photo / pic / image.


Sowing.
The seeds can be sown from March to July thinly in drills, which are 1 ½ ft. (45cm) apart, at a depth of 1 in. (25mm). However, should the temperatures be low during March, then it would be better to delay sowing as the young growing plants are sensitive to low temperatures.

Even a week at a temperature in the region of 10 deg. C. will cause the plants to bolt. However, once over this initial period, the crop is very hardy indeed.

Later thin out to allow the seedlings to be 1 ft (30cm) apart by the time they reach 1 in. (25mm) high. Should you wish to have year round harvesting, the seeds, which are to mature during the winter, can be sown under cover, then hardened off and planted in their growing bed; as they are very hardy once established they are quite capable of withstanding frost and winter conditions.

Companion planting.
Kohl rabi grows well with onions also cucumbers and herbs. However it does not do well if grown with runner beans, tomatoes or strawberries.

General Care.
Keep down the weeds by hoeing and make sure that they are kept well watered.

Harvesting.
Because they are quick growing reaching maturity 8 weeks after sowing, it is better to make small consecutive sowings to keep the vegetable available in the peak of condition when they are young and tender.

Varieties:
White: (really light green)
Early White Vienna Express Forcer Grand Duke Kolpak Triumph Quickstart
Purple: Blaro Danub Early Purple Vienna Rapid

Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance.