Sometimes hard to find at the supermarket, kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes), also known as cabbage turnip or turnip cabbage, is easy to grow in the backyard garden.
But if you plant these vegetables too densely, their bulbous stems will become distorted. Situate them too far apart and you’ll lose valuable garden real estate!
Delicious and crisp, these vegetables are an easy to care for, cool season crop that can be started indoors – sown directly outdoors in rows or raised bed gardens.
Before we get started discussing how far apart to grow these brassicas be sure to check out our complete guide to growing kohlrabi.
In this article I’ll provide a brief overview about how far apart to plant them!
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Spacing for Starting Seedlings
If you want to get a head start on the growing season, you can sow seeds indoors or in a greenhouse.
Choose an appropriate potting medium and sow three seeds per small nursery pot or tray cell.
When the seedlings have two pairs of true leaves, thin out the weaker seedlings, cutting back the stems just above the growing medium.
Our guide to growing kohlrabi from seed has all the information you need!
Spacing for Rows
Are you planning to grow your cabbage turnips in rows?
When you transplant seedlings, plan to space plants four inches apart, in rows spaced 12 to 18 inches apart.
If you are sowing seeds directly in the rows, you can sow three seeds every four inches, then when they emerge and have two sets of true leaves, thin them to leave one plant every four inches.
Feel like planning things out on paper before you head to the garden? Use a gardening journal to sketch your plans!
Are you using the square foot gardening system rather than growing your crops in rows?
This is the gardening technique most often used when cultivating crops in raised beds.
If so, plan to sow or transplant nine plants per one-foot grid section, positioning them four inches apart.
This will provide plenty of room for these plants to unfurl their greens and allow their stems to plump up into beautiful, crisp globes!
Turn Up the Cabbage Turnips
Now that you know the best spacing for your plants, you can turn up the presence of these brassicas in your vegetable garden!
Still have a question or two about how far apart to situate these veggies in your garden? Let us know in the comments section below!
Want to learn more about growing kohlrabi in your vegetable garden? We have more reading for you right here: