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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Pulaski County, IN

Pulaski County, Indiana Zone 5b April

April to-do list for Pulaski County, Indiana

Welcome to April in Zone 5b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 17
Soil temp (4") 46°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.1 hrs
  1. Plant out kohlrabi

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Scatter kohlrabi into prepared beds

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

Before May arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Pulaski County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 764 feet, Pulaski County receives approximately 31.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Kohlrabi during the growing season.

Pulaski County, IN (Zone 5b) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17
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Pulaski County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (92 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30

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 Pulaski County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–6.9) overlaps with Kohlrabi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) — 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

4
successive plantings in your 175-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 08.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Pulaski 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 ~756 GDD — county provides 2,406 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Pulaski County, IN

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest June 13 Jun 13 – Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 – Aug 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

175 days in Pulaski County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Pulaski County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after April 25 in Pulaski County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 175.0-day season in Pulaski County allows multiple plantings of Kohlrabi. Sow every 22.0 days for continuous harvest.

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 Pulaski County, IN?

Pulaski County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pulaski County, IN?

Pulaski County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 17.

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Your Pulaski County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pulaski County (Zone 5b). 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 Pulaski County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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