Early Vienna

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Sweetly crisp and vividly tender, Early Vienna forms a compact, globe-like kohlrabi with a clean, mild flavor and a juicy snap that feels almost luminous in the garden.

The smooth, pale green to creamy skin matures at about 55 days, holding its quality for fresh use and bright, quick preparations—ideal for gardeners who want early harvest satisfaction. Grow it for salads, slaws, and tangy pickles, where its delicate bite and refreshing texture truly shine.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jun 12th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Early Vienna’s standout is the juicy snap—cut it thin and it’ll stay crisp under acidic dressings without turning cabbagey. Use it where you want that cool, mildly sweet crunch: lemony slaw, fast pickles, or a quick butter-steam to highlight its clean, tender sweetness.

Best Uses

thin-sliced raw salad or slaw where it keeps its bite
quick-pickled batons for tangy snacking
brief sauté or steam with butter for a clean, sweet finish

Flavor Profile

sweetly mild brassica flavor luminous, juicy crunch tender flesh that stays snappy

Kitchen Pairings

lemon mustard (Dijon) apple cider vinegar butter yogurt caraway

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes (early kohlrabi), and how can I control it?

Watch for cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm/diamondback larvae) and aphids, which commonly chew and stunt young kohlrabi leaves and can leave shallow feeding scars. Hand-pick visible caterpillars early, then spray an approved Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product when larvae are small; for aphids, blast them off with a strong water jet and use insecticidal soap if infestations persist. Keep the bed weed-free and avoid overhead irrigation to reduce disease pressure in cool, humid weather.

How often should I water early kohlrabi during the main bulbing growth phase?

During the bulbing stage (after the plant is about thumb-size), keep the soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch of water per week total, split into 2–3 watering sessions if it’s hot or dry. Let the top 1 inch dry slightly between waterings, but don’t let the bulb zone swing from dry to soggy, since that can lead to tough, cracked bulbs. Mulch helps stabilize moisture around the stem.

How do I know when Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the kohlrabi stems (the swollen “bulb”) are about 2–3 inches across and feel firm; at this size they stay crisp and mild. Typically, this is around 55 days from sowing, but start checking daily in the final week because bulbing accelerates quickly in warm weather. If you see the bulbs getting larger and starting to look woody, harvest immediately to prevent loss of tenderness.