K IS FOR KOHLRABI



Kohlrabi! What did you do the first time you spotted a kohlrabi growing in a neighbor’s garden? Whack it with a shovel? Call NASA’s satellite recovery division? Dial 911?

Peculiar lookin’ spuds, are they not? But of course they are not spuds they are Brassicas, from the same sun loving genus that gives us broccoli, cabbage and collards. There are three slightly different varieties of kohlrabi (not just any ‘ol Robbie) generally available. These are small pale green typified by white Vienna, purple type, like purple Vienna, and Ginormous of which Kossack is the primary example.

White Vienna is probably the most common, an almost delicate pale green on the outside, pure white on the inside vegetable picked best when between tennis and baseball sized. It can be planted a few weeks before early frost for a crop that is ready about 45 days after germination, and again late in summer for a fall crop. Other than routine weeding and watering kohlrabi requires little attention. Pests generally seem to leave them alone.

The bulbs can be eaten any way that your imagination can concoct, including raw and as coleslaw.

Purple Vienna is similar in size and culture, takes a few days longer to mature, and has fewer leaves.

 

Kossack is much like White Vienna, but huge. Some Kossack specimens exceed ten lbs in weight. Contrary to what you might expect, they remain tender and juicy even at that size, so long as they get adequate water. Kossack grows best as a fall crop.

A close look reveals that the leaves of kohlrabis of all description closely resemble collard leaves. They also taste like them and are equally nutritious, and perfectly fine to eat.

As stated both white and purple Vienna ‘rabis are about baseball sized and if you quickly strip the leaves and tap root from them you are left with a 1 to 2 lb. missile that can be fired into the nose of an overly curious bear, causing much outraged wuflery and ursine retreat.

Usually.

So there you have it. An easy to grow veggie, packed with nutrition as are all the Brassicas and one which can be employed in the anti bear role. And that is why K is for kohlrabi! 

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