Tell me of Kohlrabi

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

So we grew kohlrabi this year.

How the hell do you all use this? My wife asked me to grow it, so I did, but the few we've harvested seem to have a lot of wasted core in the corm (I don't know what to call it. Is it a core if it's above ground?) and so the flesh you get is small.

I'm assuming we're waiting too long, but I always see pictures of big kohlrabi corms, so should we be harvesting them when they're an orange? A tangerine? ARe we supposed to eat the leaves and stalks? Help me not suck at kohlrabi

 

[dickiebird]

When I grew them I harvested when they were green. I never tried using the stems or leaves.
I used the body like cabbage.

THANX RICH

 

[PhilaGardener]

I never had a problem with cores in the bulbous stem, but I also didn't grow the plants in warm weather.

Makes a great cole slaw!

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

You can eat the leaves and stems too if you want. You can saute them, they are yummy! You can finely chop it and add to salads. I grated mine and made fritters with them.

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

I never had a problem with cores in the bulbous stem, but I also didn't grow the plants in warm weather.

Makes a great cole slaw!

I've heard the "don't grow them in warm weather" thing. Hmmm

 

[Dirtmechanic]

I am thinking I will plant them in September here. No snow.

 

[digitS']

Better than turnips and much easier on the stomach than radish.

Watch them as they grow.

Harvest them as they fill out that stem.

Steve

 

[flowerbug]

i have no idea as i've never grown them but i'm enjoying reading about them here and will try to remember all of this in case i ever get a chance to grow some cool weather cole crops.

@digitS' why better than turnips?

 

[baymule]

Thanks for posting this!! I bought a packet of seeds, but didn't plant them. I also have no idea of what to do with them. Maybe now I will try growing them.

 

[digitS']

@flowerbug , it may be because I kinda don't like turnips. A few years ago, I grew turnips just for greens - nope. Forgot what it was but I grew one variety of Asian green and it tasted like turnips - nope. I grew turnips when I was in my 20's and fed them to the livestock - yep.

Bok choy is in the turnip family. A BIG improvement and I eat lots of it .

I grew kohlrabi for a couple of seasons. I remember that both Dad and I thought it was just fine - we would even peel and eat them in the garden. DW didn't like them ... there's just no accounting for taste! The harvest idea that I came to realize was that as soon as that stem was round, it was ready. Waiting a couple of days was okay but not longer than that.

Steve