Other names
Italian chicory, red chicory
Botanical name
Cichorium intybus var. foliosum
Family / Genus
Asteraceae / Cichorium
Plant category
Leafy Vegetables
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Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Medium feeder
Difficulty level
Intermediate
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - late
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
110 days
Row spacing
45 cm
Plant spacing
35 cm
Growth height
30 - 70 cm
Sowing depth
2 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
12 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
22 - 28 °C
Germination type
Dark
Pre-growing period
40 days
Planting & harvest times of Radicchio
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Pre-grow
Transplant
Harvest
Direct sowing from Mid June to Late July. Transplant to bed from Mid July to Mid August. Pre-grow about 40 days before transplanting, approximately between Early June and Early July. After a growing period of 110 days, harvest can begin around Mid September and continues until Late October.
Good and bad companions of Radicchio
Good neighbours
Broccoli
Radicchio grows well between the broccoli plants and tolerates their shade.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Cauliflower
Radicchio grows well between cabbage plants and tolerates their shade.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Kale
Radicchio grows well between rows of kale and tolerates their shade.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Spring onion
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Bad neighbours
Predecessors and successors of Radicchio
Bad predecessors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Chicory
Rotation break: 3 years
Endive
Rotation break: 3 years
Sugar loaf chicory
Rotation break: 3 years
Sunflower
Both are composites and hosts of white mould. The sclerotia persist in the soil for up to 10 years.
Rotation break: 4 years
Bad successors
Batavia lettuce
Rotation break: 3 years
Chicory
Rotation break: 3 years
Endive
Rotation break: 3 years
Sugar loaf chicory
Rotation break: 3 years
Sunflower
Both are composites and hosts of white mould. The sclerotia persist in the soil for up to 10 years.
Rotation break: 4 years
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to
Cabbage whitefly
Harvest and processing
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