Kohlrabi 'Early White Vienna'
Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes 'Early White Vienna'
This unique vegetable produces crisp, sweet bulbs that taste like a cross between cabbage and turnip, with a delightful apple-like crunch. The pale green bulbs are best harvested young and tender, offering a refreshing addition to salads or excellent roasted as a side dish. Easy to grow and fast-maturing, this heirloom variety is perfect for gardeners wanting to try something new and delicious.
Harvest
55-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Kohlrabi 'Early White Vienna' in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 brassica →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Kohlrabi 'Early White Vienna' · Zones 6–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | January – March | March – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits dry and split when ripe.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh kohlrabi bulbs store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer, wrapped in perforated plastic bags to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation. Remove all leaves before storing, as they draw moisture from the bulb. Properly stored bulbs stay crisp for 3-4 weeks at 32-35°F.
For longer preservation, kohlrabi excels when pickled – slice thinly and quick-pickle in vinegar brine with spices for a tangy winter treat. Blanched and frozen kohlrabi cubes work well in soups and stews, though they lose their raw crunch. Ferment julienned kohlrabi like sauerkraut for a probiotic-rich condiment. The young, tender leaves can be dehydrated for use as seasoning or added fresh to salads within 2-3 days of harvest.
History & Origin
Early White Vienna kohlrabi traces its roots to the Mediterranean region, where ancient Romans first cultivated this unique brassica over 2,000 years ago. The name 'kohlrabi' derives from the German 'kohl' (cabbage) and 'rabi' (turnip), reflecting its flavor profile that puzzled early botanists trying to classify this alien-looking vegetable.
The 'Vienna' designation indicates this variety's development in Austria during the 1500s, where Habsburg court gardeners refined it for superior tenderness and rapid maturation. Austrian immigrants brought seeds to America in the 1800s, where it became a staple in German-American communities throughout the Midwest.
This heirloom variety gained popularity during both World Wars when victory gardeners appreciated its quick maturity and storage capabilities. While kohlrabi never achieved mainstream American acceptance like its cabbage cousins, Early White Vienna remained the gold standard among European-heritage gardeners who prized its reliability and sweet, apple-like crunch. Today, it's experiencing renewed interest among farm-to-table enthusiasts seeking unusual vegetables with superior flavor.
Advantages
- +Attracts: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
- +Wildlife value: It serves as a host plant for butterflies, moths, flies, sawflies and beetles.
- +Edible: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Onions
Repel cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles that commonly attack brassicas
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete, can be harvested before kohlrabi matures, provides living mulch
Radishes
Break up soil for kohlrabi's shallow roots, mature quickly, may trap flea beetles
Spinach
Cool season companion with similar growing requirements, doesn't compete for space
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms and aphids
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, edible flowers add garden diversity
Carrots
Deep taproot doesn't compete with shallow kohlrabi roots, helps break up soil
Chives
Repel aphids and cabbage worms, improve flavor of nearby brassicas
Keep Apart
Tomatoes
Compete for nutrients and may stunt kohlrabi growth, different watering needs
Pole Beans
May inhibit kohlrabi growth through nitrogen competition and shading
Strawberries
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, different soil pH preferences
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168424)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease tolerance, resistant to clubroot
Common Pests
Cabbage worms, flea beetles, aphids, root maggots
Diseases
Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew