Lettuce (Radicchio / Italian chicory)

Plant family

Daisy family (Asteraceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm

Instructions

End of March

Propagating

Beginning of April

Hoeing

Every week

Beginning of April

Transplanting

Description

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) is a cultivated form of the common chicory used as a vegetable or salad. It is hardy and is usually harvested as an autumn salad.

Growing tips

The soil should be permeable, continuous watering is beneficial. The young plants need temperatures above 16 °C, with early sets up to over 20 °C. Otherwise, depending on the variety, with increasing day length undesirable inflorescences (buds) are formed. The cultivation period is 8-11 weeks. Heads weigh about 200-250 g in summer and 300-350 g in fall. Radicchio survives stronger frosts up to -5 °C.