White Vienna

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Sweet and crisp from the first bite, White Vienna forms a smooth, ivory-white kohlrabi globe with a tender, fine-grained texture that stays pleasantly juicy.

Its mild, cabbage-kissed flavor shines whether you enjoy it fresh or gently cooked, and it holds up beautifully for quick pickles and bright, creamy sauces. For gardeners who love clean, elegant shapes as much as flavor, this 55-day variety delivers a satisfying harvest with a crisp snap and a refined, garden-fresh taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Upright

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 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

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

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

White Vienna’s fine-grained, juicy crunch makes it a rare kohlrabi that doesn’t taste “sharp” raw—slice thin and it stays snappy under light dressing. When warmed, the brassica edge softens quickly, so it behaves beautifully in quick pickles and quick creamy sauces without turning starchy or cabbage-y.

Best Uses

shaved raw in salads to keep that tight snap
quick-pickled coins for crunchy, bright snacking
fast pan-sauté or steam, then finish with butter and lemon
blended into creamy sauces (works silky without tasting like overcooked brassica)

Flavor Profile

sweet, cabbage-kissed mildness juicy, fine-grained crunch gentle brassica bite that mellows with heat clean, vegetable-forward freshness

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter mustard fresh dill Greek yogurt bacon

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage clubroot on White Vienna (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)?

Clubroot is common in Brassicaceae and shows as swollen, distorted roots plus sudden wilting even when the soil looks moist. Remove and discard infected plants, avoid planting any other brassicas in the same bed for several years, and lime the bed to keep pH around 7 if your soil is acidic. Keep soil from staying waterlogged and don’t over-fertilize with nitrogen, which encourages lush growth that can worsen disease.

How often should I water White Vienna to keep the right soil moisture during its main growth?

During the main bulbing phase, keep the root-zone evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total from rainfall plus irrigation. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry, rather than frequent light sprinkling, so roots grow steadily and the swollen stems develop without splitting. Mulch helps stabilize moisture, which is crucial for consistent growth by harvest (around day 55).

What are the signs that White Vienna is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the bulbs are firm and reach a usable size—typically around 55 days after sowing—with the stem swelling becoming clearly rounded at the soil line. If they feel hollow or soft when gently squeezed, they’re likely overgrown or deteriorating, so pull promptly. For best tenderness, harvest before they become too large and woody; you can also cut one test plant to judge firmness and maturity.