White Vienna Kohlrabi - 20 Seeds

White Vienna Kohlrabi is an early-maturing heirloom variety prized for its crisp, round, pale green bulb and tender, sweet taste. Despite its turnip-like appearance, kohlrabi is a swollen stem, not a root. It’s a cool-weather vegetable with a subtle, nutty taste similar to broccoli stems or mild cabbage.

Plant type Cool-season biennial (grown as an annual)

Bulb size 5–8 cm diameter is ideal for tenderness

Bulb colour Pale green to creamy white, slightly flattened

Leaves Blue-green, upright, edible and similar to kale or collards

Flesh Crisp, white, and juicy with a mild, sweet taste

Texture Crunchy, like a cross between a radish and an apple

Growth habit Compact and upright

Maturity 50–60 days from sowing

White Vienna is excellent eaten raw in slaws or salads, sliced and roasted, or lightly sautéed. It’s also perfect for dipping, fermenting, or spiralising.

Growing Conditions

Light Full sun (minimum 6 hours/day)

Soil Loose, fertile, and well-draining with high organic matter

pH 6.0–7.5

Watering Keep soil evenly moist—irregular watering may cause woodiness or splitting

Feeding Moderate feeder; incorporate compost or use a balanced organic fertilizer

Sowing Instructions

Direct Sowing (preferred)

When to sow

Spring crop 2–4 weeks before last frost

Autumn crop Late summer (8–10 weeks before first frost)

Seed depth 0.5–1 cm

Spacing

Thin to 10–15 cm between plants

Rows 30–40 cm apart

Germination time 5–10 days

Germination temp 15–24°C

Starting Indoors (optional)

When 4–6 weeks before transplanting outdoors

Transplant When seedlings have 2–3 true leaves; do not delay transplanting, or plants may bolt

Temperature & Seasonality

Prefers cool weather 10–24°C

Hot weather can cause bolting or tough, woody bulbs

Frost-tolerant and ideal for early spring or autumn harvests

Common Pests & Problems

Pests

Cabbage white butterfly (larvae) Chews large holes in leaves – use netting or handpick

Flea beetles Tiny holes in leaves – protect seedlings with floating row covers

Aphids Cluster on stems and undersides of leaves – use neem oil or soapy water spray

Cutworms May cut young plants at the base – use collars or mulch

Slugs and snails Feed on young seedlings – use traps or copper tape

 Diseases

Downy mildew Yellow spots with fuzzy grey undersides – improve air flow and avoid overhead watering

Black rot V-shaped yellow lesions on leaves – rotate crops and avoid working on wet plants

Clubroot Soil-borne disease causing swollen, deformed roots – rotate crops and lime acidic soils

Alternaria leaf spot Small dark spots – remove infected leaves and avoid splashing water

Harvesting Tips

When to harvest When bulbs are 5–8 cm across—any larger, and they may get woody

How Cut at the base just above the soil line

Use Use bulbs immediately or store in the fridge for 1–2 weeks; leaves can also be eaten like kale