How to Grow Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes
Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens offer a vibrant, nutrient-dense addition to any salad bowl or sandwich. Gardeners prize these young Brassica plants for their intense flavor and compact size, making them ideal for quick harvests in small spaces.
Starting Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens is not usually started indoors.
Because these are grown as microgreens for immediate harvest, there is no need to transplant seedlings outdoors; simply sow them in trays and bring them inside once ready.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your growing medium with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to suit this cool-season brassica. Since microgreens are harvested very early, you can sow seeds indoors just a few days before the last frost or direct seed them outdoors immediately after the danger of hard freezes passes. Press seeds gently into the soil surface without covering them deeply, as they require light for germination within 3 to 5 days.
Keep the growing medium consistently moist by misting two to three times daily; do not let the roots dry out during their rapid growth phase. While mature kohlrabi requires staking, these microgreens grow low and dense without needing any support structures. Avoid heavy feeding since they are harvested young, but ensure good airflow around the tray to prevent fungal issues common in brassicas.
Watch for flea beetles and aphids, which can be managed with insecticidal soap or by introducing beneficial insects early. Prevent clubroot, black rot, and damping off by ensuring excellent drainage and avoiding overhead watering once seedlings emerge. Harvest your purple kohlrabi microgreens at 80 days after sowing by snipping the stems just above the soil line when they reach their full potential size.
When to Plant Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | — | January – December |
Companion Plants for Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens
✓ Good companions
Fellow brassica with complementary spicy flavor profile
Natural pest deterrent against aphids and flea beetles
Attracts beneficial insects and provides flavor contrast
Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, efficient space utilization
Acts as trap crop for flea beetles and aphids that target brassicas
Nitrogen-fixing properties benefit soil health for successive plantings
Compatible brassica family member with similar care requirements
Similar light and moisture requirements, good companion crop
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of brassica family plants
May stunt growth of brassicas through root competition
Different pH and nutrient requirements can negatively impact kohlrabi growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
