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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Zone 6b May

May to-do list for Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska

Welcome to May in Zone 6b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 16.7 hrs
  1. Move kohlrabi into the garden

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

  2. Seed kohlrabi outdoors

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: kohlrabi

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Kohlrabi is an unusual brassica that forms a swollen stem above ground with a mild, sweet turnip-like flavor. Both the bulb and tender leaves are edible.

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 246 feet, Yakutat City and Borough receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 66°F, so choose short-season varieties of Kohlrabi to ensure they mature before fall.

Yakutat City and Borough, AK (Zone 6b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25
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Yakutat City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 27 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Aug 24

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Yakutat City and Borough

How your county's soil matches Kohlrabi's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.3) is more acidic than Kohlrabi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Yakutat City and Borough is excellent for Kohlrabi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Kohlrabi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Kohlrabi will thrive.

How to Plant Kohlrabi

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Kohlrabi

3
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 17.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Kohlrabi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 2.7" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Yakutat City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Kohlrabi Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Kohlrabi needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Harvest July 8 Jul 8 – Aug 12
Fall Sowing July 17 Jul 17 – Jul 31

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Yakutat City and Borough

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Yakutat City and Borough

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after May 20 in Yakutat City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Kohlrabi in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Harvest when bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter for best texture and flavor. Larger bulbs may become woody and fibrous.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Kohlrabi in Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 25.

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Your Yakutat City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yakutat City and Borough (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Yakutat City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.