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Repotting guide

When & how to repot Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)

Also called German turnip, Turnip cabbage.

More about kohlrabi

About Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes · also called German turnip, Turnip cabbage · edible

Kohlrabi is a fast, easy brassica grown for its swollen, globe-shaped stem that sits above ground, with a crisp, mild, turnip-meets-cabbage flavour. Green and purple types crop in 8-10 weeks. Sow successionally from spring, keep it growing steadily in fertile, moist soil and full sun, and harvest while the bulbs are young and tender, before they turn woody.

Mature size: 25-30 cm tall and wide, with bulbs best harvested at 5-8 cm across

Watch for — Cabbage root fly: Larvae feed on roots, wilting and stunting young plants. Fit brassica collars around stems at transplanting or use insect-proof mesh to block egg-laying.

How to tell kohlrabi needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For kohlrabi, watch for these signs:

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot kohlrabi

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest. Rather than a true repot, kohlrabi is lifted and divided once the clump congests and flowering drops off. Low, compact plant with a cluster of long-stalked leaves rising from a smooth, rounded stem that swells just above soil level into the edible 'bulb'..

What size pot to step kohlrabi up to

Pot size matters less than depth and spacing here. When you replant kohlrabi, set the bulbs or tubers at the correct depth (a rough guide: two to three times their own height of soil over the top) and space them so they are not touching. A wide, shallow pot suits a clump better than a tall narrow one.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot kohlrabi

The only safe window is dormancy: wait until the foliage has yellowed and died back naturally, lift and divide then, and replant before or at the start of the next growing season. Disturbing kohlrabi in full growth or flower sets it back badly.

Step-by-step: repotting kohlrabi

  1. Wait for dormancy. Let kohlrabi foliage yellow and die back completely. Lifting while it is in growth wastes the energy it is storing for next year.
  2. Lift carefully. Loosen the soil well away from the bulbs/tubers with a fork and ease the whole clump out without spearing them.
  3. Separate the offsets. Gently pull the clump apart into individual bulbs or tubers. Keep only firm, healthy, blemish-free ones.
  4. Replant at the right depth. Reset them in fresh fertile, free-draining loam, ph 6.0-7.5 at the correct depth and spacing — not touching — so each has room to bulk up.
  5. Water in and rest. Water once to settle them, then keep on the dry side until growth resumes. Do not feed until leaves are actively growing.

Aftercare

After replanting kohlrabi, keep the soil barely moist — not wet — until shoots appear; bulbs and tubers rot in cold, saturated soil. Once leaves are growing strongly, resume normal watering. Hold off feeding until the plant is in active growth again.

The right soil mix for kohlrabi

Kohlrabi wants fertile, free-draining loam, ph 6.0-7.5. Likes light-to-medium, moisture-retentive ground enriched with compost. Good drainage and steady fertility keep bulbs sweet and crisp; lime acidic soils to reduce clubroot risk. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting kohlrabi — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot kohlrabi?

Lift and divide every 3–4 years once clumps congest for kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is lifted and divided, not "repotted". Every 3–4 years, once the foliage has died back and it is dormant, lift the clump, separate the offsets, and replant at the correct depth in fertile, free-draining loam, ph 6.0-7.5. Crowding, not pot size, is what reduces flowering over time.

What size pot does kohlrabi need?

Pot size matters less than depth and spacing here. When you replant kohlrabi, set the bulbs or tubers at the correct depth (a rough guide: two to three times their own height of soil over the top) and space them so they are not touching. A wide, shallow pot suits a clump better than a tall narrow one. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.

When is the best time of year to repot kohlrabi?

The only safe window is dormancy: wait until the foliage has yellowed and died back naturally, lift and divide then, and replant before or at the start of the next growing season. Disturbing kohlrabi in full growth or flower sets it back badly.

Do you "repot" kohlrabi, or lift and divide it?

You lift and divide it. Kohlrabi grows from bulbs or tubers, so instead of repotting you wait for dormancy, lift the congested clump, separate the healthy offsets, and replant them at the right depth and spacing. Doing this every 3–4 years restores flowering.

Should you fertilise kohlrabi after repotting?

Hold off feeding kohlrabi until it is in active growth again. Fresh soil already carries enough nutrients to get it re-established, and feeding disturbed roots too soon does more harm than good.

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