Kohlrabi, Azur Star

This purple, 4-inch-diameter kohlrabi makes some of the best kohl-slaws around. Just grate it along with some green apple and add a dash of raisons for sweetness. Azur Star has all the fresh, crisp flavor of broccoli stems without being fibrous or tough. It is wonderful eaten fresh when shaved thin as a chip and eaten fresh. Plant them 8 inches apart, and harvest them when the stems swell to 4 inches in diameter.

Kohlrabi: Another variety of the same species as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Kohlrabi has been bred to grow a wide, crunch stem that tastes amazing. While a little less common, kohlrabi tastes great fried, sliced thin like chips, or shredded into salads for a fresh slaw. It grows fast and early in the season, so after harvest it leaves space for another summer planting.

Growing Tips: Kohlrabi can squeeze in pretty tightly but still make sure to give them at least 6 inches between plants. Plant them right up to their first set of leaves to help them steady themselves as they develop.