Purple Vienna Kohlrabi
Purple Vienna Kohlrabi is a round, bulbous stem with leaves emerging from top brassica with fruit around 2-4 inch diameter bulbs. Ready from roughly day 60-70. Germination takes 7-10 days. Space 6-8 inches apart at pH 6.0-7.5. Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow 4-6 weeks before last spring frost, or 8-10 weeks before first fall frost. Can succession plant every 2-3 weeks.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 10-24 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Purple-red skin with bright white interior
- Size
- 2-4 inch diameter bulbs
- Shape
- Round, bulbous stem with leaves emerging from top
- Flavour
- Crisp, sweet, mild flavor similar to broccoli stem or mild turnip
In the kitchen
Raw in salads, roasting, stir-frying, steaming, pickling, coleslaw substitute
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Flea beetles, cabbage worms, aphids
- Diseases
- Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew
- Resistance
- Generally disease resistant, good bolt tolerance
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 27
- Protein (g)
- 1.7
- Fat (g)
- 0.1
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 6.2
- Fibre (g)
- 3.6
- Sugars (g)
- 2.6
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 2
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 62
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.48
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 0.1
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.15
- Folate (µg)
- 16
- Calcium (mg)
- 24
- Iron (mg)
- 0.4
- Magnesium (mg)
- 19
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 46
- Potassium (mg)
- 350
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.03
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.7
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Purple Vienna Kohlrabi?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other brassicas with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Purple Vienna Kohlrabi suits these too.
- Calabrese Broccoli 60 days
- Kale 'Winterbor F1' 60 days
- Red Trumpet 60 days
- Lacinato Kale 60 days
- Radish 'Daikon 'Miyashige' 60 days
- Collard Greens 'Georgia Southern' 60 days