How to Grow Kohlrabi In Paperpots (Paper Chain Pots)
Growing Kohlrabi in Paperpots
Better germination!
No hand transplanting!
Less transplant shock!
Kohlrabi is a perfect crop to grow in paper chain pots. Starting the seeds in the nursery, versus the field, gives you great germination rates; and the kohlrabi seedlings transplant easily with the Paperpot Transplanter.
Kohlrabi is a crop that most market gardeners wouldn’t think of as a paperpot crop, but it’s one that works really well in the Paperpot system.
The Paperpot Transplanter can transplant seedlings quickly and easily into the field 28 days after starting the seeds.
All without bending over and less transplant shock!
The kohlrabi heads will size up perfectly – the paper chain doesn’t affect formation.
The Specifications for Paperpot Kohlrabi
| PAPER CHAIN POT | 6" |
| ROWS PER 100’ X 30” BED | 4 |
| TRAYS PER 100’ X 30” BED | 3 |
| KWIK KLIK™ TOP PLATE | Plate: Paperpot (264 holes) / Thickness: 3mm / Hole Diameter: 3mm |
| SEEDS PER CELL | 1 |
| SEED PER 100’ X 30’ BED | 760 seeds (+/-) *Always round up when placing seed orders to ensure having enough |
| RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS | Quickstar, Kolibri, Beas |
| GERMINATION | 48 hours at 77°F |
| DAYS TO TRANSPLANT | 28 days (+/-) *time from seeding to transplanting in the field |
| DAYS TO MATURITY | 70 days (+/-) *time from seeding to being ready for harvest |
| HARVEST WINDOW | 14 days (+/-) *time crop is at ideal stage for harvest after reaching maturity |
| TOTAL DAYS IN FIELD | 56 days (+/-) *DTM + harvest window - days to transplant |
| HARVEST UNIT | Bunch (3-4 per, 2.5-3.5" in diameter) |
| TARGET CROP YIELD | 217 bunches (+/-) |
| PRICE PER UNIT | $3 *depending on local market pricing |
| REVENUE PER BED | $650 *depending on local market pricing |
| SEEDING | Kwik Klik™ Drop Seeder, Paperpot Germination Trays, Paper Chain Pots |
| TRANSPLANTING | Paperpot Transplanter |
| TILTHING | Power Harrow or Precision Depth Roller (With no tractor: Tither) |
| AERATION | Meadow Creature Broadfork |
| SHAPING | Bed Preparation Rake |
| WEED CONTROL | Flame Weeder |
| CULTIVATION | Wheel Hoe w/ Bio-Disc Cultivator or Flex Tine Weeder |
Suggested Tools for Paperpot Kohlrabi
Bed Preparation for Paperpot Transplanting
- Broadfork the bed to aerate and loosen the soil.
- Smooth and shape the bed with a bed preparation rake, removing any debris.
- If the previous crop was fertilized, kohlrabi will do fine without reapplication.
- If not, but here are two options:
- 1) Layer on 1” of compost, enough to mostly cover the native soil.
- 2) Sprinkle on a combination of alfalfa meal and pelleted chicken manure.
- If layering compost, do not tilth in hopes of smothering any surface weed seed.
- If adding amendments, tilth the top 1-2” of soil to mix in amendments.
- Irrigate for 10-14 days*, allowing any weed seed in top layer of soil to germinate.
- Flame weed the bed when the cotyledons of the weed seeds have emerged.
Growing Kohlrabi in Paperpots
Seeding Kohlrabi in Paperpots
Prepare trays with 6” paper chain pots, and fill with potting mix.
Install Paperpot bottom plate and specified top plate into Kwik Klik™ (KK) Drop Seeder.
Pour seed onto the top plate and rotate until one seed fills each hole.
Position the KK Drop Seeder over the tray, ensuring the holes are lined up with the cells, and click to drop the seeds.
Water the trays, then place in germination chamber for 48 hours at 77°.
Transfer the trays to greenhouse tables after germination.
Thoroughly water trays before heading to the field for transplanting.
Using the Paperpot Transplanter, plant the four rows of kohlrabi.
4 rows on a 30″ bed: 7.5” between rows, and 3.75” from the outer rows to the edge of the bed.
Reference https://paperpot.co/learn/ for instructional videos if needed.
Transplanting Kohlrabi with the Paperpot Transplanter
Irrigation
Water the beds thoroughly with overhead irrigation or four rows of drip.
Frequent shallow waterings will support rapid growth.
10-14 days after transplanting, cultivate using a Terrateck Wheel Hoe with the bio-disc cultivator attachment.
A weekly pass with the flex tine weeder is also an effective tool for preventing weeds.
Cultivation (Weeding)
Harvesting Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is ready for harvest when the bulbs are 2.5 to 3.5”.
Kohlrabi is harvested while straddling the 30” bed and cutting at the base with a harvest knife or pruning shears.
Create bunches of 3-4 bulbs in the field, rubber banding the greens.
Using a Washdown Gun sprayer over a root wash table, spray each bunch while rotating until all soil is thoroughly cleaned off.
Transfer the washed bunches to totes, and store at 35° until taken to market.
Washing and Packing Kohlrabi
Overall Paper Chain Pots make kohlrabi a much more farmer-friendly crop.
Time savings, ease of transplanting, and high germination rates are some of the reasons why kohlrabi is one of the most popular market garden crops grown in paperpots.
Get started growing kohlrabi on your farm using a Paperpot Transplanter and download the Growers Notes below.
INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A PAPERPOT TRANSPLANTER?
If you have any questions, please reach out hello@paperpot.co or 877.850.1555.