Other names
cabbage turnip, stem turnip, german turnip
Botanical name
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
Family / Genus
Brassicaceae / Brassica
Plant category
Cabbage vegetables
pokku/Shutterstock.com
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Medium feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
C - low growth, short growing period
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
82 - 90 days
Row spacing
25 cm
Plant spacing
30 cm
Growth height
40 - 80 cm
Sowing depth
1 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
12 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
18 - 22 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Pre-growing period
30 days
Planting & harvest times of Kohlrabi
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest
GreenhouseDirect sowing from Mid January to Mid July. Transplant to bed from Mid February to Mid August. Pre-grow about 30 days before transplanting, approximately between Mid January and Mid July. After a growing period of 90 days, harvest can begin around Mid April and continues until Late October.
OutdoorsDirect sowing from Early April to Mid July. Transplant to bed from Mid April to Mid August. Pre-grow about 30 days before transplanting, approximately between Mid March and Mid July. After a growing period of 82 days, harvest can begin around Mid June and continues until Late October.
Good and bad companions of Kohlrabi
Very good neighbours
Subterranean clover
Subterranean clover as an undersowing cut flea beetle damage by 66 percent in trials.
Good neighbours
Crimson clover
The clover's scent disrupts the orientation of cabbage root fly and cabbage white.
Cucumber
Kohlrabi uses the space next to the young cucumbers. By the time the cucumber vines spread out, it has been harvested.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Dill
Dill irritates cabbage white butterflies
Honeydew melon
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Lamb's lettuce
I have read conflicting information about companion planting with brassicas. Share your experiences.
Leek
Kohlrabi grows fast and uses the space between young leeks. Once it is harvested, the leeks have the bed to themselves.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Melothria
Kohlrabi is considered a good neighbour for cucumbers. For the related Melothria this is only carried over; it sprawls vigorously and often does better on its own.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Radish
Radishes and kohlrabi work well in companion planting, and the radishes are ready first. A net protects both from flea beetles.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Watermelon
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
White clover
Flowering white clover undersowing confuses the cabbage white and reduces egg laying.
Bad neighbours
Courgette
Cabbage and courgettes are considered poor neighbours, though no reason is known. Next to cucumbers, on the other hand, cabbage has proved its worth.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Predecessors and successors of Kohlrabi
Good predecessors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Buckwheat
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Lupin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Oats
Lasting effect: 3 years
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Phacelia does not host brassica pathogens and lowers clubroot pressure on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
Radish
Radishes are a popular early crop before cabbage. As brassicas, though, they can pass on cabbage root fly and clubroot, so opinions differ.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sainfoin
Lasting effect: 3 years
Soya bean
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Sunflower
Cabbage benefits from the deep loosening but also hosts white mould. Avoid where the disease is known on the plot.
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Heavy feeders thrive in loose, nutrient-rich soil
Lasting effect: 2 years
Bad predecessors
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Mizuna (Asian greens)
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Spinach
Spinach itself is undamaged but multiplies beet cyst nematode strongly. Brassicas and beets suffer from it.
Rotation break: 3 years
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad predecessors
Broccoli
Broccoli and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Brussels sprouts
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Cauliflower
Cauliflower and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Kale and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Good successors
Alfalfa
Lasting effect: 3 years
Berseem clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Common vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Crimson clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Hairy vetch
Lasting effect: 3 years
Lamb's lettuce
Lasting effect: 3 years
Leek
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Persian clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Phacelia
Lasting effect: 3 years
Red clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Subterranean clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Tomato
Lasting effect: 3 years
White clover
Lasting effect: 3 years
Winter rye
Winter rye helps to fix residual nitrogen, making it ideal for heavy feeders
Lasting effect: 1 year
Bad successors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Black kale
Rotation break: 4 years
Butterhead lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Carrot
Rotation break: 3 years
Cucumber
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for cucumbers. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Flower Sprouts
Rotation break: 4 years
Garden cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Honeydew melon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for honeydew melons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Horseradish
Rotation break: 3 years
Iceberg lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Kohlrabi
Rotation break: 4 years
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Rotation break: 3 years
Melothria
Cabbage, tomatoes and sweet peppers are heavy feeders and are considered a poor previous crop for Melothria. Legumes, leeks, celery or lettuce suit it better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Oak leaf lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Pak choi
Rotation break: 4 years
Radish
After cabbages and other brassicas, clubroot and cabbage root fly pupae remain in the soil. Wait four years before sowing radishes there again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
Rocket
important for large-scale cultivation.
negligible for strip cultivation of rocket.
Rotation break: 3 years
Romaine lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Sainfoin
High residual nitrogen suppresses nodulation. Weak-competing sainfoin is then overgrown by weeds.
Rotation break: 3 years
Savoy cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Swede
Rotation break: 3 years
Turnip
Rotation break: 3 years
Watermelon
Cabbage is considered a poor preceding crop for watermelons. Legumes, leeks, celery or a green manure with clover suit them better.
Rotation break: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Winter cress
Rotation break: 3 years
Very bad successors
Broccoli
Broccoli and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and swede midge. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Brussels sprouts
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Cauliflower
Cauliflower and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Chinese cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Kale
Kale and kohlrabi are closely related brassicas and share clubroot, cabbage root fly and black rot. Wait four years before using the same bed again.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Self-incompatibility
Mustard
Both are brassicas. Clubroot resting spores survive up to 20 years in the soil, so a 4 to 5 year break is needed.
Rotation break: 4 years
Oil radish
Rotation break: 3 years
Pointed cabbage
Rotation break: 4 years
Red cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Romanesco
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
White cabbage
if disease has occurred, a 6-year break is preferable
Rotation break: 4 years
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to
Alternaria leaf spot of brassicas
Black rot(high susceptibility)
Cabbage aphid
Cabbage moth
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage whitefly
Cabbage whites
Clubroot(high susceptibility)
Diamondback moth
Downy mildew of brassicas
Flea beetles
Swede midge
White rust
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