Growing and Sowing Chicory Red

Radicchio is a vegetable that can only be sown in colder seasons, so early or late in the season. This is to prevent bolting. For those who still want to eat fresh vegetables from the garden in October, growing radicchio is recommended. Radicchio is related to (green) chicory, and also has a bitter taste. Radicchio has a slightly spicier taste than chicory.

Growing your own radicchio from seeds

Radicchio is a leafy vegetable, is a chicory and grows in heads. Sowing can be done in the spring, but it is better to wait until after the longest day. This is to prevent bolting, which means that the plant will flower and is no longer tasty. Radicchio tolerates moderate frost. Depending on when you sowed and the weather conditions, you can harvest radicchio until winter. Because it can only be sown late, you can grow it after other crops.

Sowing and planting radicchio

Radicchio can be sown in April and May, or after the longest day until September. The latter is preferable because the vegetable tends to bolt quickly. It can be pre-sown, but radicchio hates replanting. It is therefore best to sow directly in the open ground with a planting distance of about 30 x 20 cm.

Direct to the Red Radicchio Seeds >

Position and soil

Radicchio doesn’t need much fertilization. A layer of compost will be sufficient. Radicchio likes a somewhat moist soil, so it is important to water regularly.

How to care for your radicchio plants

Radicchio is easy to grow. It is enough to regularly pull weeds and remove the dead leaves. This is to give the healthy leaves more air and prevent the growth of mold.

When and how to harvest radicchio?

Depending on when you sowed your seeds, you can harvest radicchio from May, early cultivation, to December, late cultivation. When harvesting, do not pull up the entire plant, but cut off the leaves. It is possible that the plant grows back and a second harvest is possible.

How to preserve radicchio

Radicchio is best eaten raw. Covered you can keep radicchio in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for about a week. Covering prevents the vegetables from drying out. In addition, it can be frozen raw, but it does lose its crunchy structure.

Is radicchio healthy?

Radicchio is a very healthy vegetable. It is packed with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins C, B11, E, and K and potassium.

Radicchio seeds in our collection

In our range we have the varieties Ross di Chioggia and Rossa di Treviso. We also have seeds of green chicory and chicory in our range.

Tips to grow radicchio

• To protect radicchio from frost, they can be covered with fleece. Please note, this only protects during moderate frost. Once the crop has been frozen, it will rot quickly.
• Radicchio is best eaten raw, cooked it is less crunchy and the colour also changes. You can also stir-fry or grill it; this makes the vegetable less bitter.

Direct to the Red Radicchio Seeds >