KOHL-RABI 269 



KOHL-RABI 



This plant is little known and is not appreciated by Americans 

 as much as it deserves. It is a near relative of the turnip and mar- 

 row kales, being in reality a turnip above ground. In quality and 

 delicacy, however, it ranks with the cauliflower, and because of its 

 simple cultural requirements and its high quality when well grown 

 and harvested at the proper stage, it might with propriety be dubbed 

 the " lazy man's cauliflower." The reason the plant is not popular 

 is to be explained by the lack of knowledge of it. It is as delicate 

 as a radish, must be quickly grown during the cooler seasons of 

 the year, and must be used while young and tender, for it becomes 

 passe as quickly as do spring radishes. 



Soil. Rich garden soils and conditions suitable for the produc- 

 tion of crisp, tender radishes are ideal for kohl-rabi. 



Culture. Kohl-rabi can be seeded in place and thinned to stand 

 6 or 8 inches apart in the row, and will produce a good product at 

 any season when quick growth is possible. Therefore to secure 

 best results it should be planted in succession. Planting at inter- 

 vals of two weeks should secure the proper sequence to maintain 

 plants in prime condition. Kohl-rabi is one of the hardier mem- 

 bers of the Cabbage family, and because of this hardiness it should 

 find favor in those localities where the more exacting cauliflower 

 cannot be grown. 



Harvesting. The quickly grown, swollen stems should be har- 

 vested when not over 2 inches in diameter. Larger, slowly grown 

 specimens are inferior in flavor and texture. 



LEEK 



Judging the popularity of these plants by their presence in 

 American gardens, it is safe to say that the leek ranks next to 

 the common garden onion. While it is not grown by truck farm- 

 ers, it is frequently found in both market and kitchen gardens. 



Botany. The leek is a hardy biennial producing a thickened stalk 

 which resembles a "thick-neck onion," from the base of which 

 roots are profusely developed. The arrangement of the leaves 

 in a single plane gives the plant a peculiar fanlike appearance 



