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Annual Biennial

Brassica oleracea (Gongylodes Group) 'Kolibri'
  • RHS AGM

kohlrabi 'Kolibri'

A hardy annual grown as a vegetable. An attractive, compact, purple skin variety with pure white, succulent flesh and upright, green leaves. Best harvested and eaten when young as the stem becomes bitter when mature. Easy to grow and quick to mature in under 8 weeks from sowing

Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Chalk
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, light, non-acid, well-drained soil in full sun. Sow direct at a depth of 1cm and distance of 30cm between rows, thin to 15cm apart when the first true leaves appear. See Vegetable Cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage root fly, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetle, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildew, grey mould, leaf spot

Get involved

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