How to grow kohlrabi with the Paperpot Transplanter
Four rows of kohlrabi at 6″, bunched three or four bulbs at a time. Settings, timing, yields and step-by-step notes for paper chain pots.
Paperpot settings for kohlrabi
Use 6″ paper chain pots, drop one seed per cell with the Kwik Klik Slide, and transplant 4 rows on a 30″ bed, 7.5″ apart. Plan on about 3 trays per 100′ bed.
| Paper chain pot | 6″ |
|---|---|
| In-row spacing | 6″ |
| Rows per 30″ bed | 4 (7.5″ apart) |
| Trays per 100′ bed | 3 |
| Kwik Klik top plate | Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 3 mm holes |
| Seeds per cell | 1 |
| Seed per 100′ bed | 760 seeds (+/-) |
| Cultivars | Quickstar, Kolibri, Beas |
| Germination | 48 hours at 77°F |
| Days to transplant | 28 days |
| Days to maturity | 70 days |
| Harvest window | 14 days |
| Harvest unit | Bunch of 3-4 bulbs (2.5-3.5″) |
| Yield per 100′ bed | 217 bunches |
Bed figures are for a 100′ x 30″ bed. From the Paperpot Co. Growers Notes, developed with farmers Erich Schultz (Steadfast Farm) and Seth Davis. Adjust for your climate and conditions.
Bed preparation
- Broadfork the bed to aerate and loosen the soil.
- Smooth and shape the bed with a bed prep rake, removing any debris.
- If the previous crop was fertilized, kohlrabi will do fine without reapplying. If not, either layer on 1″ of compost (enough to mostly cover the native soil) or sprinkle on alfalfa meal and pelleted chicken manure.
- If you layer compost, don’t tilth it in, so surface weed seed stays smothered. If you add amendments, tilth the top 1-2″ to mix them in.
- Irrigate for 10 to 14 days* to germinate weed seed in the top layer of soil, then flame weed once the weed cotyledons are up.
Seeding
- Set a germination tray with 6″ paper chain pots and fill with potting mix.
- Set up the Kwik Klik Slide with the Paperpot bottom plate and the Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 3 mm holes top plate.
- Pour seed on the top plate and work it until one seed sits in each hole. Line the seeder up over the tray and slide the plate to drop seed into every cell at once.
- Water the tray, then germinate for 48 hours at 77°F.
- Move trays to greenhouse benches as soon as you see germination.
Transplanting
- Water the trays thoroughly before heading to the field.
- Plant four rows of kohlrabi with the Paperpot Transplanter: 7.5″ between rows, 3.75″ from the outer rows to the bed edge.
- New to the transplanter? See the how-to guide and videos.
Bed layout
Irrigation
- Water the bed in thoroughly with overhead irrigation or four lines of drip.
- Frequent, shallow waterings support fast growth.
Cultivation
- 10-14 days after transplanting, cultivate with a wheel hoe and bio-disc cultivator, which works on and between the rows in one pass.
- A weekly pass with a flex tine weeder also keeps weeds down.
Harvest
- Kohlrabi is ready when bulbs are 2.5-3.5″ across.
- Straddle the bed and cut at the base with a harvest knife or pruners.
- Bunch 3-4 bulbs in the field and rubber-band the greens.
Washing and packing
- Spray each bunch with a washdown gun over a root wash table, turning it until all the soil is off.
- Pack the washed bunches in totes and store at 35°F until market.
*All timing varies with your climate, soil and season.
Suggested tools
| Job | Tool |
|---|---|
| Seeding | Kwik Klik Slide, Paperpot germination trays, paper chain pots |
| Transplanting | Paperpot Transplanter |
| Aeration | Broadfork |
| Tilthing | Tilther, power harrow or precision depth roller |
| Bed shaping | Bed prep rake |
| Weed control | Flame weeder |
| Cultivation | Wheel hoe with bio-disc or flex tine weeder |
Kohlrabi in paper chain pots: FAQ
What paper chain pot do I use for kohlrabi?
6″ chains. Plant 4 rows on a 30″ bed, 7.5″ apart and 3.75″ in from each edge.
Which Kwik Klik plate?
The Paperpot 264, 3 mm thick, 3 mm holes top plate, with the Paperpot bottom plate in the Kwik Klik Slide. Aim for one seed per cell.
How long from seeding to harvest?
About 70 days, with 28 days in the greenhouse before transplanting and a harvest window of about 14 days. Timing varies with your climate and season.
Where do I get a Paperpot Transplanter?
The transplanter, paper chain pots, trays and the Kwik Klik Slide are at Modern Grower. Questions? Email hello@moderngrower.co.
Other crops
basil · beets · bunching onions · cabbage · cilantro · dill · fennel · garlic · head lettuce · leeks · Little Gem lettuce · mesclun mix lettuce · onions · snap peas · salad turnips · spinach · storage radishes · summer crisp lettuce. All crops in one table: the Paperpot growers notes.
Kohlrabi growers notes (PDF)
This guide as a two-page printable sheet.
How to use the Paperpot system
Filling, seeding, transplanting and care, with videos.
Skip spacing
Seed every other or every third cell for wider in-row spacing.