How to grow kohlrabi seedlings at home

Kohlrabi (meaning "turnip cabbage") is a variety of the familiar cabbage, the edible part of which is the stem, which resembles a turnip in shape and tastes like a cabbage stalk. This vegetable is deservedly in high demand for its high vitamin, mineral, and ascorbic acid content (more than some citrus fruits).

In addition to its nutritional value, it is also attractive for its agricultural technology: it tolerates low temperatures remarkably well, has no particular soil preferences, does not require frequent watering and, which is very important for many, takes up very little space in the garden (it grows well among other crops).

When to plant seeds for seedlings

Kohlrabi is not only a healthy vegetable, but also a unique one, as the harvest can be collected three times per season, sometimes more often, by varying the timing of sowing the seeds for seedlings.

Before deciding on planting dates, you need to decide which varieties grow And for what purposes. Early- and mid-season kohlrabi are planted for summer consumption, while late-season kohlrabi is planted for autumn consumption and storage.

As a rule, early varieties are grown using seedlings, while the rest can be grown directly in the ground.

Timing of sowing seeds:

1. Early varieties are sown for seedlings in March (10th-20th) indoors or in a heated greenhouse, transplanted into peat pellets or cups. Seedlings are transplanted into the garden bed when they have at least four leaves, between April 25th and May 5th. The first harvest can be harvested in the first ten days of June.
2. The next (second) time to sow seeds is from May 1st to 5th, directly into the garden bed under a plastic cover. From June 10th to 15th, the cabbage can be transplanted, and the space left after the first harvest can be prepared for sowing a new batch.
3. On June 20th-25th, the next (third) batch of seeds is sown in a bed under plastic or in a nursery bed for a late harvest, which is harvested in early October. Seedlings can be planted between July 25th and August 1st. The harvest from the second sowing will be ready, and this space will be available.

Seed preparation

When choosing seeds, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the variety information to determine the correct timing and growing conditions. Otherwise, you may end up storing early varieties that don't store well, or sowing late varieties in anticipation of an early harvest.

To ensure good germination and strong seedlings, the planting material must be prepared. To do this, place the seeds in a cloth bag in warm water at 50°C for 15 minutes, then in cold water for 1 minute. Then, place them in the refrigerator for 12 hours, spread out on a saucer and covered with a napkin.

At the next stage, place the seeds in a nutrient medium (for example, a solution of 1 teaspoon of Ideal in 1 liter of water) for a third of an hour, rinse under running water and dry.

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Soil preparation

Using garden soil for seedlings is not recommended due to the risk of fungal spores and pathogens. It's better to use prepared soil specifically for cabbage seedlings or prepare a loose soil mixture of equal parts high-quality humus and turf soil. You can disinfect the entire mixture or each component separately using a 1% potassium permanganate solution.

Methods of sowing for seedlings

Kohlrabi seedlings can be planted using two methods: with or without transplanting. The first method involves planting in a common container, while the second involves planting in individual containers.

Sowing with picking

Pour the soil mixture into shallow containers to a depth of 4-5 cm, moisten, and allow to settle. Distribute the seeds, leaving 1-2 cm between them, into shallow furrows (1-1.5 cm), cover with soil, and compact lightly.

The optimal temperature for germination is 18°-20°C. Good lighting is essential, but it's best to avoid placing the containers in direct sunlight. After germination (4-5 days), the temperature should be lowered to 7°-9°C to prevent the seedlings from stretching.

Once the seedlings have grown, you can begin transplanting them on the 10th to 12th day, having prepared the containers in advance. Early varieties should be transplanted into cups with 8x8cm necks, while the others should be transplanted into 6x6cm or 7x7cm cups. Maintain the temperature at 17°-18°C for 2-3 days, then lower it to 13°-14°C during the day and 10°-12°C at night.

Sowing without picking

To avoid picking, use peat tablets (41-44 mm in diameter), special cassettes with cells (7-8 cm high) for seedlings, cups of similar dimensions, and containers divided by partitions into separate cells.

Two seeds should be planted in each container, deepening them by 1-1.5 cm. Then the weak sprout is removed.

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How to care for seedlings

The care procedures are simple and uncomplicated, but all of them taken together ensure the growth of healthy and strong seedlings.

Care stages:

1. Water moderately, avoiding the soil from drying out or overwatering the roots, which can lead to root rot. Loosening the soil will help maintain the necessary moisture.
2. Provide sufficient lighting throughout the day (12-15 hours) using additional lighting.
3. Maintain daytime temperatures around 17°C and nighttime temperatures slightly lower.
4. Apply additional nutrition by spraying (foliar feeding) when two leaves appear, using a solution of ½ a micronutrient tablet or ½ a teaspoon of complex fertilizer per 1 liter of water. The next feeding consists of urea and potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon each) dissolved in a bucket of water (10 liters). Spray each seedling with this solution during the hardening-off period.
5. Begin hardening off the seedlings 10-14 days before transplanting. Take the boxes out onto the balcony or loggia, and open a window. Hardening off is essential because it allows them to adapt to temperature changes and sunlight. Seedlings that have undergone this process will withstand temperatures as low as -7°C, while unhardened ones will withstand temperatures as low as -4°C.

When and how to plant seedlings

It's recommended to begin planting seedlings in the garden bed when the air temperature reaches +8°C; lower temperatures will cause bolting. The seedlings are ready when they have at least five leaves.

The bed should be dug over beforehand to allow the soil to settle. It's best to transplant in the evening or when there's no sun.

Between the holes of early varieties, try to maintain a distance of 60x20/70x30 cm, 60x40/70x45 cm for late-ripening ones, deepen the seedling to the leaves.

For good rooting and rapid growth, it is recommended to cover the bed with film or agrofibre, and also protect it from bright sun in the first days after transplanting.

How to Grow Large Kohlrabi – Advice from a Practitioner

If you pinch the roots of Giant seedlings when planting, growth is more vigorous, and the head can reach 4-5 kg ​​in weight, compared to no more than 2.5 kg with standard planting. The fruit's flesh is juicy, sweet, and very tender. Furthermore, the plant tolerates infrequent but abundant watering well.

Growing kohlrabi seedlings at home on a windowsill is not at all difficult – you just need to arm yourself with knowledge about the crop's characteristics and put them into practice, and if used correctly, they will definitely yield good results.