Kohl Rabi - Purple seeds (Organic)

Kohl Rabi Purple Seeds - Certified Organic

Seeds per packet: 100

AT A GLANCE

• Quick harvest: Ready in just 55 to 60 days from sowing
• Eye-catching: Striking purple skin with crisp white flesh inside
• Cold hardy: More frost tolerant than green varieties, perfect for winter
• Dual purpose: Eat the swollen stem and cook young leaves like kale
• Space efficient: Compact plants ideal for small gardens and containers

This purple variety stands out in the garden with its stunning colour and unusual appearance, looking like a small purple spaceship hovering above the soil. The flavour sits somewhere between cabbage and broccoli stems with a hint of apple, mild and sweet when harvested young. Purple Vienna is hardier than green types, making it perfect for autumn and winter gardens when other vegetables struggle. Harvest when tennis ball sized for the best texture, or pick smaller for raw eating in salads.

Alternate Names: Also known as: Purple Vienna, Kohlrabi, German Turnip, Turnip Cabbage, Stem Turnip

PLANTING & GROWING SPECIFICATIONS

GROWING CALENDAR

Tropical (Darwin, Cairns): Grow during the cooler dry season only. Hot, humid conditions cause plants to bolt to seed without forming good bulbs.

Subtropical (Brisbane, Gold Coast): Perfect autumn and winter crop. Avoid mid summer heat which causes bolting. Plant March for ANZAC Day harvest.

Arid (Alice Springs, Broken Hill): Thrives in cooler months with consistent watering. Protect from extreme summer heat.

Temperate (Sydney, Perth, Adelaide): Grows almost year round except mid summer and mid winter. Succession plant for continuous harvest.

Cool (Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra): Perfect for Melbourne and Hobart winters. Purple varieties handle cold better than green types, staying productive even through light frosts.

PLANTING GUIDE

When should I plant Kohl Rabi Purple seeds?

• Best soil temperature: 16°C to 27°C for germination
• Frost considerations: Can handle light frosts once established, more tolerant than green varieties
• Moon planting: Sow during increasing moon for strong stem development
• Succession planting: Every 3 to 4 weeks for continuous supply
• ANZAC Day harvest: Plant in February or March for late April maturity

What soil conditions does Kohl Rabi Purple need?

• Soil type: Rich, moisture retentive loam ideal. Like all brassicas, kohl rabi is a heavy feeder. Add lime to acidic soils
• pH range: 6.0 to 7.5 for optimal growth
• Organic matter: Dig in compost and aged manure three weeks before planting
• Drainage: Good drainage essential but soil must retain moisture
• Nutrient needs: High nitrogen and potassium for stem development
• Soil preparation: Remove stones, enrich with compost, firm soil well
• Container mix: Premium potting mix with 30% compost and handful of blood and bone

GROWING CARE

Water Requirements:

• Keep soil consistently moist throughout growth for tender, sweet stems
• Water deeply once or twice weekly depending on weather
• Irregular watering causes woody, tough stems and splitting
• Mulch around plants to maintain even soil moisture

Feeding Schedule:

• Prepare beds with aged manure and compost three weeks before sowing
• Side dress with blood and bone or complete organic fertiliser when plants are 10 cm tall
• Apply liquid seaweed fortnightly for trace elements
• Keep nitrogen levels high for rapid growth and tender stems

Climate Protection:

• Protect from extreme heat above 30°C which causes bolting to seed
• Provide afternoon shade in hot weather or use shadecloth
• Purple varieties handle frost better than green, no protection needed for light frosts
• Use fleece if temperatures drop below minus 6°C

PEST AND DISEASE SOLUTIONS

Common Challenges:

• Cabbage white butterfly: Cover with fine netting or check daily and squash eggs and small caterpillars. They demolish brassica leaves
• Aphids: Spray with soapy water or strong jet of water. Usually appears during warmer weather
• Slugs and snails: Protect young seedlings with crushed eggshells or organic pellets. Most vulnerable in first few weeks

COMPANION PLANTING

Best Companions:

• Beetroot: Grows well alongside kohl rabi without competition
• Onions: Deter pests and use different soil layers
• Lettuce: Quick crop fits between kohl rabi plants

Avoid Planting Near: Tomatoes, strawberries or pole beans which can inhibit growth. Do not plant where other brassicas grew recently

HARVEST AND STORAGE

When to Harvest:

• Look for stems 5 to 8 cm diameter, tennis ball size for best flavour
• Check by feeling the stem above soil level for firmness
• Typically ready 55 to 60 days after sowing
• Best harvested when young and tender before becoming woody
• Regular harvesting by pulling every second plant allows others to grow larger

Storage Method:

• Fresh: Remove leaves, store stems unwashed in crisper for 2 to 3 weeks
• Preserving: Peel and slice, blanch for 2 minutes, then freeze
• Long-term: Pickle in vinegar or ferment like sauerkraut
• Special tip: Young leaves cook like kale within 2 days of picking, high in nutrition

CULINARY USES

• Peel and eat raw, sliced thinly with salt and lemon juice for crisp texture
• Grate raw into slaws and salads for mild, sweet crunch
• Steam, roast or stir fry lightly, do not overcook
• Pairs beautifully with butter, garlic, lemon, ginger and sesame
• Popular in European, Asian and modern Australian cooking

WATER-WISE GARDEN RATING

• Rating: 3 out of 5 water drops
• Established plants handle short dry periods reasonably well
• Mulching heavily reduces water needs significantly
• Deep watering twice weekly better than frequent light watering
• Suitable for moderately water conscious gardens with good mulch

ORGANIC GROWING TIPS

• Harvest stems when tennis ball sized, larger stems become woody and tough
• Thin seedlings to final spacing when 5 cm tall, use thinnings in salads
• Cook young leaves like kale, they are delicious and nutritious
• Rotate with legumes or root crops, not other brassicas
• Succession plant every three to four weeks for steady winter supply

WHY CHOOSE OUR ORGANIC SEEDS

• Australian Certified Organic (ACO) certified
• Supplied by Happy Valley Seeds to home gardeners
• Seeds tested for local growing conditions
• Grown using organic farming practices
• Supporting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity