Kohlrabi Purple Vienna

Kohlrabi Purple Vienna — variety description

Kohlrabi Purple Vienna (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) is an annual vegetable of the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Kohlrabi Purple Vienna is an old variety considered one of the standards for home and market. The purple skin covers slightly greenish-white flesh with an excellent flavour.

The tops are small, and the leaves are colourful and edible. Simply treat them like curly kale.

The nutritional, dietary value and pleasant taste of the plant are due to its high sugar content, a large number of mineral salts - potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus - as well as vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, thiamine). In vitamin C content, kohlrabi is not inferior to lemons and oranges.

Eating this vegetable has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, metabolism and the functioning of the digestive organs, especially the liver and gallbladder.

Kohlrabi is crunchy, juicy and sweet — eaten raw like an apple, in salads or braised. Grows quickly and is ready in 6–8 weeks.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 85%
• Seeds per packet: 221–299 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: February – May; direct or seedlings
• Harvest: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Kohlrabi Purple Vienna

Kohlrabi Purple Vienna seeds are sown in February – May. The crop is harvested in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Kohlrabi Purple Vienna

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 5–10 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Kohlrabi should be grown from seedlings, in early spring. Its stems reach maturity in June. This vegetable grows well on moderately firm but not too heavy soils rich in humus, for example sandy-loam soils. Soil that is too light and poor can easily be adapted to the needs of kohlrabi by fertilising with manure a year before growing begins. The growing technique is similar to that of white cabbage. Seedlings are planted shallowly, covering only the root system with soil (deep planting produces elongated stems). This is done in May, 15 cm apart. Watering and feeding are carried out at the start of the formation of the swollen stem. Kohlrabi is harvested when the stems reach 8-12 cm. in diameter. Store at 0°C with 95% humidity for about 2 months.

Water evenly — uneven moisture makes the bulb woody and cracked.

Harvest and use

Pick when the swollen stem is 5–8 cm in diameter.

Frequently asked questions

When should Kohlrabi Purple Vienna be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – May. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 221–299 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 85%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.