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Brassicaceae FAMILY

Brassica oleracea gongylodes

Brassica oleracea gongylodes

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitBiennial
GrowthFast

Kohl rabi originated through cultivation in the warm temperate zone, and can be grown from cool temperate regions to the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 12 - 18°c, but can tolerate 5 - 25°c[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[1]. Very winter hardy, kohl rabi withstands severe frosts and so can be left in the ground all winter in hardiness zones 6 upwards and be harvested as required[2]. The young growing plant, however, is sensitive to low temperatures and a week at 10°c will cause the plants to bolt[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,300mm, but tolerates 700 - 1,700mm[1]. Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[2]. Prefers some shade and plenty of moisture in the growing season[3, 4]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil, though it is best not grown in an acid soil[5, 6]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant but the best stems are formed when the plant does not go short of moisture[3, 4]. Succeeds in maritime gardens[2]. A very fast growing plant, the stems of some cultivars can be harvested 6 - 8 weeks after sowing[6]. Yields are normally between 20 - 24 tonnes per hectare[1]. The plant is more tolerant of drought and high temperatures than turnips, which it resembles in flavour, and so it is often grown as a substitute for that species[2]. There are several named varieties and stem colour can range from white to green and purple[2]. Green forms are faster to mature and so more suitable for early sowings, the purple forms are hardier and later to mature, they are used mainly for winter crops[2].

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring to mid summer in situ. Earlier sowings can be made under cloches. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Brassica+oleracea+gongylodes>

Pollinators

Bees, Self

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. — Riotte. L. · Garden Way, Vermont, USA. · 1978 · ISBN 0-88266-064-0 ↩︎Fairly good.
  4. [4]The Gardener's Assistant. — Thompson. B. · Blackie and Son. · 1878 · ISBN - ↩︎Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
  5. [5]New Vegetable Growers Handbook. — Simons. · Penguin · 1977 · ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 ↩︎A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.
  6. [6]Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. — Organ. J. · Faber · 1960 · ISBN - ↩︎Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.
  7. [7]Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. — Brooklyn Botanic Garden · Brooklyn Botanic Garden · 1986 · ISBN - ↩︎A small booklet packed with information.
  8. [8]Plants Consumed by Man. — Brouk. B. · Academic Press · 1975 · ISBN 0-12-136450-x ↩︎Readable but not very comprehensive.
  9. [9]Medicinal Plants of China — Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. · Reference Publications, Inc. · 1985 · ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ↩︎Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
  10. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎