Topic: splitting kohl rabi

[weedin project]

Strange splitting on the bulbs of my kohl rabi.

Some are splitting horizontally, others vertically.  They are a bit bigger than golf balls at the moment (or rather they were).  It looks almost as if they've been vandalised with a sharp knife.  Not all of them are suffering this way.  They have been watered moderately along with pumpkin, cauliflowers, and dwarf beans in the same general area, all of which are doing OK.

Any ideas what might be causing it, or what I can do to rescue them? ???

[Mrs Ava]

This has been mentioned somewhere before.  I believe it is due to eratic watering - mine do the same, but they heal over as they split and didn't effect my crop at all.  I tend to ignore the damage and so long as the wound heals over so no lurgies can get in, hravest them when they are big enough, or when I want them!

[Mike J]

It was my post that previously mentioned splitting kohl rabi and I took comfort from Emma Jane's similar experiences - mine look healthy, apart from the healed split, and are growing well - despite continued erratic watering amid the drought conditions over the last few weeks here in West Sussex (near the sea). My question now is when is big enough big enough to harvest? They range from golf ball to tennis ball sizes (some slightly larger).

[Svea]

whenever you fancy them. golf ball is too small, tennis ball and up, i would say.
contrary to popular belief, they dont go woody the moment they grow bigger than tennis ball :) but dont let them grow to pumpkin size either :o

like you, i have spotted one split kohlrabi and it's not a problem. just making peeling it slightly more difficult ;)

svea

[beejay]

From my experience I wouldn't let them get much bigger than tennis ball size as they do get a bit fibrous at the bottom when cooking. A bit like eating fingernails!

[Mike J]

Thanks everyone - will try one of the larger ones soon.