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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Scioto County, OH

Scioto County, Ohio Zone 6b May

May in Scioto County, Ohio — your action list

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Scioto County, Ohio.

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 21
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Start kohlrabi indoors

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • 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.

Scioto County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 182 days.

At an elevation of 851 feet, Scioto County receives approximately 38.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Kohlrabi during the growing season.

Scioto County, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
182 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
182 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21
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Scioto County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 1

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 Scioto County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–6.8) is within Kohlrabi's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — 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 182-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 12.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Scioto 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 ~839 GDD — county provides 2,775 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Scioto County, OH

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Direct Sow April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 29
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 – Jul 15
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 – Aug 26

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
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

182 days in Scioto County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Scioto County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after April 22 in Scioto County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 182.0-day season in Scioto 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 Scioto County, OH?

Scioto County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scioto County, OH?

Scioto County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 21.

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Your Scioto County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Scioto County (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 Scioto County, OH. 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.