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Brassica Microgreen

Purple Kohlrabi

Purple kohlrabi microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) are a brassica microgreen with a sweet, crisp and cabbage-like flavor, ready to harvest in 8-12 days. MicrogreenUSA grows them sushi-grade indoors for wholesale standing orders, and they are best for specialty plating.

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Purple Kohlrabi Microgreens

Purple kohlrabi microgreens bring a sweet, crisp, cabbage-like flavor on striking purple stems - a specialty brassica that looks premium and tastes gentle.

Chefs use it for color and a clean sweet crunch on refined plates, slaws and vegetable-forward tasting menus.

Order Purple Kohlrabi Wholesale →
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Common namePurple Kohlrabi
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. gongylodes
CategoryBrassica
FlavorSweet, crisp, cabbage-like
Grow time8-12 days
Best forSpecialty plating
AvailabilityYear-round wholesale
Minimum order5 lbs / week
Grow Data & Sources

What do seed suppliers publish for growing purple kohlrabi microgreens?

These figures are True Leaf Market's published guide for Kohlrabi - Purple Vienna - Microgreens Seeds (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) plus Kohlrabi, Purple (2237M) from Johnny's Selected Seeds' 2017 yield trial, not our farm schedule (that is on our process page).

Seeding rate (10x20 tray)0.5 oz per 10 x 20 inch tray
Pre-soakNo (Presoak: 0 Hours)
Germination3-5 days
Blackout2-3 days
Days to harvest8-12 days
FlavorMild cabbage-like
Seed per 1020 tray (Johnny's trial)9.5 g
Yield per 1020 tray (Johnny's trial)11 oz
Days to first true leaf (Johnny's)16

Sources: True Leaf Market, Johnny's Selected Seeds.

How does purple kohlrabi compare with the other microgreens we grow?

At 8-12 days, purple kohlrabi is the 9th fastest of 18 varieties by supplier harvest window, tied with broccoli, kale, mustard and Swiss chard. Its 11 oz trial yield is 3rd of 13, 1.16 oz of purple kohlrabi per gram of seed. Purple kohlrabi goes on dry in the supplier guide.

Is there USDA nutrition data for purple kohlrabi microgreens?

Not from a lab: FoodData Central has no entry for purple kohlrabi microgreens, so we print no nutrient figures.

Are purple kohlrabi microgreens a food-safety concern?

FDA classes purple kohlrabi microgreens as covered produce, not sprouts (FDA guidance).

Common Questions

Purple Kohlrabi FAQ

What do purple kohlrabi microgreens taste like?

Purple kohlrabi microgreens have a sweet, crisp and cabbage-like flavor. They bring a sweet, crisp, cabbage-like flavor on striking purple stems - a specialty brassica that looks premium and tastes gentle. They are the young cotyledon-stage greens of Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes, harvested before the first true leaves appear.

How long do purple kohlrabi microgreens take to grow?

Purple kohlrabi microgreens take 8-12 days from seed to harvest in our indoor farm. The seed gets a 4-6 hour soak in RO-filtered water before seeding. For comparison, seed suppliers publish 8-12 days in True Leaf Market's guide and about 16 days to first true leaf in Johnny's 2017 trial. By that supplier window it is the 9th fastest of the 18 varieties we grow. Our full growing process is on our process page.

How do chefs use purple kohlrabi microgreens?

Chefs use it for color and a clean sweet crunch on refined plates, slaws and vegetable-forward tasting menus. In our wholesale program they are best for specialty plating. They are available year-round on a standing weekly order, on their own or as part of a custom blend with other varieties from our catalog of 20.

How long do purple kohlrabi microgreens last after delivery?

Purple kohlrabi microgreens keep 7-10 days, like most of our varieties, when refrigerated at 34-38°F in sealed packaging and kept away from ethylene-producing produce. They are clean-cut with sanitized blades and in cold storage within 45 minutes of harvest, so orders typically arrive with 5-10 days of shelf life remaining.

How do I order purple kohlrabi microgreens wholesale?

Order through a MicrogreenUSA wholesale account. The minimum is 5 lbs per week for a single restaurant, and purple kohlrabi microgreens can be packed in 2, 4 or 8 oz anti-fog clamshells, 1-5 lb vacuum-sealed bulk pouches or uncut living trays. Southeast USA accounts get deliveries on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and we reply to applications within 24 business hours.

Do purple kohlrabi microgreen seeds need soaking?

True Leaf Market's grow guide for Kohlrabi - Purple Vienna - Microgreens Seeds (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) lists no pre-soak, then lists 3-5 days germination, 2-3 days of blackout and 8-12 days to harvest. Our farm sets its own soak times by seed size; the schedule is on our process page.

How much does a tray of purple kohlrabi microgreens yield?

Johnny's Selected Seeds measured 11 oz per 1020 tray for Kohlrabi, Purple (2237M) in its 2017 microgreen yield trial, from 9.5 g of seed, cut at about 16 days at the first true leaf. Johnny's calls these rounded averages that vary with seed lot, density and timing. Among our varieties in that trial, purple kohlrabi ranks 3rd of 13 for yield.