kohl rabi

[norfolklass]

I have some seeds (can't remember which variety) that I got in a swap but I've never eaten this (actually, I've never even seen it!) so I was wondering:

what does it taste like?
is it easy to grow?
is it a brassica or a root (for rotation)?
what do you do with it?!?

I'd really appreciate a bit of advice, thanks ;D

[norfolklass]

[manicscousers]

we grow two varieties, green delicacy and purple..taste, a bit like turnip, nice and crisp, you can slice them very fine in salads, cook whole, roast or mash with carrots
they're easier to grow that some brassicas but..the slugs love them
yes, brassicas, ours go between the big cabbages and sprouts, take them when golf to tennis ball size, after that, they can get woody
hope this helps

[Biscombe]

Really good grated in salads too

[saddad]

I'm trying some for the first time but Deb P has some ready on her plot!
;D

[cleo]

You will enjoy them I`m sure. Like so many veg the shelf life is short so bought ones can never compare with home grown.

[manicscousers]

just remembered, bob flowerdew has a recipe for kohl slaw in his book, uses kohl rabi instead of cabbage..must try it  ;D

[norfolklass]

thanks peeps, will be sowing some this weekend ;D

(I know I could have googled it but asking you all and your combined wealth of experience is much better!!)

[Rosyred]

I'm growing for the first time this year too I have little seedlings at the moment was thinking of maybe planting out this weekend. If I don't I end up killing seedlings for some reason in this weather.

[lin]

It's my first year for kohl rabi too and mine are already really big plants... and although I don't even know what they taste like, a neighbouring plot holder said if you pick them golf ball sized they are delicious eaten raw, so can't wait, I love raw veggies..
Lin

[OllieC]

Yum yum, they're my favourite vegetable. You can't buy a salad in most of Europe without them, yet they're so rare here.

Almost every European restaraunt I've been in - including France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and then moving east and south has, at the very least had them for a side... yet we get lettuce!

Yes, lettuce. Water and slug mucus. Yum.

And they all laugh at us for some reason. Well, so would I. It's not the horse-burgers, "special" showers or dope-smoking that makes them better. It's the Kohl Rabi. And when we master this we will be worthy of the empire we once had.

Green for early, purple for late.

I think I might start a support/campaign group for them.