Cool-season produce

Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group

The swollen stem forms above soil, not a root. Harvest small and tender before spring heat makes it woody.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyBrassicaceae (mustard)

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowSeptember–January; transplants can continue into early February.

How to plantDirect sow in fall or set out young transplants.

Plant spacing6–8 in

FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.

Time to harvestAbout 45–60 days from transplants; 50–60 from seed

SuccessionSow every 2–3 weeks in fall and winter.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestFall through late winter swollen stems and edible leaves.

Right plant, right place

Will Kohlrabi grow at your Arizona property?

The swollen stem forms above soil, not a root. Harvest small and tender before spring heat makes it woody.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.