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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Pueblo County, CO

Pueblo County, Colorado Zone 6a May

Your May planting checklist for Pueblo County, Colorado

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Pueblo County, Colorado this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 7
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Set out kohlrabi seedlings

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: kohlrabi
  • First harvests: 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.

Pueblo County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 153 days.

At an elevation of 4,607 feet, Pueblo County receives approximately 14.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Kohlrabi during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Kohlrabi successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Pueblo County, CO (Zone 6a) Moderate season
153 days
Last Spring Frost May 7
153 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7
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Pueblo County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 12

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 Pueblo County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.9) overlaps with Kohlrabi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Pueblo County is excellent for Kohlrabi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Kohlrabi.

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

4
successive plantings in your 153-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 29.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 511 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.3" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Pueblo County). 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 ~880 GDD — county provides 2,448 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Pueblo County, CO

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow April 23 Apr 23 – May 14
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 – Jul 30
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 – Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

153 days in Pueblo County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Pueblo County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after May 07 in Pueblo County 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 Pueblo County, CO?

Pueblo County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 7. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pueblo County, CO?

Pueblo County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 7 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Pueblo County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pueblo County (Zone 6a). 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 Pueblo County, CO. 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.