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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Lincoln County, OR

Lincoln County, Oregon Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Lincoln County, Oregon gardeners in May

A quick May briefing for Lincoln County, Oregon gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 19
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: kohlrabi

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • 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.

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 267 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Kohlrabi to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, OR (Zone 9a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 19
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (111 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 3

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.4) is more acidic than Kohlrabi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Kohlrabi will thrive.

How to Plant Kohlrabi

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Kohlrabi

5
successive plantings in your 195-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 05.

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 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 2" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 0.6" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 0.7" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3" 1.8" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 6.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 5.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lincoln 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 ~674 GDD — county provides 2,388 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, OR

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 – Jul 12
Fall Sowing September 5 Sep 5 – Sep 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September Fall Sowing
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 9a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Lincoln County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after April 19 in Lincoln County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 195.0-day season in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of April 19. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, OR?

Lincoln County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is April 19 and first fall frost is October 31.

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Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 9a). 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 Lincoln County, OR. 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.