Rainline Garden

When to plant kohlrabi in Olympia, WA

Plant kohlrabi in the garden in Olympia Apr 1 – May 13, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 12–26.

Easy Plant seeds or young plants

Why these dates

Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
Thin to 6 inches apart
Planting depth
¼ to ½ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 55 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Start seeds indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden Apr 1 – May 13, Thin to 6 inches apart. If you plant seeds instead, sow them ¼ to ½ inch deep.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again Aug 12–26 for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Cut bulbs at 2 to 3 inches across. Peel off the tough skin and eat raw or cooked.

Varieties that do well here

  • Kolibri (purple)
  • Winner
  • Kossak (large, stores well)

Watch out for

Cabbage worms chew the leaves. Insect netting keeps the white moths from laying eggs.

Pick when the bulb is about tennis-ball size; bigger ones turn woody.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Olympia, WA?

Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.

Is it too late to plant kohlrabi in Olympia?

The spring planting window runs through May 13. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 12 to August 26.

When should I start kohlrabi from seed indoors in Olympia?

February 18 to March 4, which is 6 to 4 weeks before the April 1 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.

Also plant in Olympia around the same time

Planting dates for kohlrabi in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Olympia · Kohlrabi in every city