Kohlrabi - Oddest Looking Vegetable in the Garden
Kohlrabi - Odd Looking, Easy to Grow and Great Tasting
Kohlrabi wins the prize as one of the oddest-looking vegetables in the garden, resembling one of the Martians out of H. G. Wells War of the Worlds. It resembles an above ground turnip, with several leaves emanating from the bulbous stem. Kohlrabi has a milder flavor than the turnip, is quick to mature and is quite nutritious. The bulbous stem is the edible part, though the leaves can be included in a salad or stir fry dish.
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Growing Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is in the cabbage family and is quite easy to grow. If growing from seed, plant them about six weeks before the last spring frost. The seeds will germinate in 5 - 7 days and the seedlings will grow quickly. Well established seedlings can be set out prior to the last frost date, as kohlrabi is frost hardy.
Kohlrabi Culture
Set the plants about 12 inches apart in the garden. Feed the soil well with composted manure or just plain compost. Kohlrabi prefers full sun but will still grow with a bit of shade.
Harvesting Kohlrabi
When the bulbous stem reaches about three inches in diameter it is time to harvest. It will take a sharp knife to cut the thin stem just above soil level. Depending upon the variety, harvest should be about 50 - 60 days after planting in the garden.
Eating Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi can be roasted, stir fried, pickled or made into a slaw. Roasting Kohlrabi brings out its sweet flavor the best. It takes about 20 minutes at 400 degrees in the air fryer. First, you skin the vegetable, as the skin can be bitter. Some varieties need to be skinned twice, the second time to remove the inner skin. Some varieties do not have this second layer. Skinning is easy with a potato peeler. Kohlrabi will keep about two weeks in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Nutrition:
1 cup (135 grams) of kohlrabi (3, 4) contains:
36 calories
8.4 grams carbohydrates
2.6 grams protein
0 grams fat
4.9 grams fiber
83.7 milligrams vitamin C (140 percent DV)
472 milligrams potassium (13.5 percent DV)
0.2 milligrams B6 (10 percent DV)
62 milligrams phosphorus (6.2 percent DV)
22 micrograms folate (5.5 percent DV)
0.1 milligrams thiamine (4.7 percent DV)
32 milligrams calcium (3.2 percent DV)
© 2023 Paul Wonning