Chicory, Belgian Endive, and Radicchio are various types cold-weather vegetables of the same plant, Cichorium intybus.
Chicory produces a green leaf rosette, which can are found in salads. The cut, fleshy taproot of chicory can be ground and used as a coffee substitute.
The Belgian endive is grown for its pale-green, tightly-wrapped leaves used in salads.
Radicchio, also known as Italian chicory, is cultivated for its rosette of large red leaves used in salads; the leaves are similar to those of chicory but have a more acidic flavor. Radicchio also has ahead of 3 to 5 inches across.
Cichorium intybus
When flowering, chicory has a tough, grooved, and more or less hairy stem, from 30 to 100 cm (10 to 40 in) tall
Rich soil cultivated to 18 inches deep
Zones 3 to 9
Chicory grows in full sun and will tolerate partial shade.
Maintain plants evenly moist. Before planting, apply aged compost to the beds and once at midseason.
In soil fertile in organic matter, that is well-drained and free of lumps that may cause the roots to fork or break is the ideal place to plant chicory. Before growing, apply aged garden compost to plant beds. Chicory tends to favor a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.8.
Chicory and radicchio are a sturdy, cool-seasonal perennial that grows well in cold winter regions in spring and early summer, and in the warm-winter areas in fall and winter plant chicory seeds 2 weeks before the last frost average date in spring.
Colder temperatures give chicory and radicchio the sweetest taste. Plant chicory seeds in the garden as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost average date in spring. Chicory and radicchio thrive in temperatures between 45 ° F and 75 ° F.
Grow chicory and radicchio so that in cold weather, it comes to harvest. Depending on the variety, chicory and radicchio allow 85 to 100 days of harvesting. Belgian endive heads are the second stage of plant growth often grown indoors; temperature is not a consideration.
Plant the chicory and radicchio seeds 1⁄4 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Space rows distance between 24 and 36 inches. When the seedlings are four inches tall, thin plants 6 to 18 inches apart. You may eat the thinnings.
Growing Chicory for the roots. Grow chicory for roots in organically rich soil planted to 18 inches deep. Roots will be able to harvest about 120 days after planting.
Growing Radicchio. Choose from combinations of heading and semi-heading. Radicchio is better planted for the autumn harvest; sow the seeds in the garden 85 days before the first frost in the fall, the radicchio demands a long, cold season. Place a plastic mulch or plastic sheet around the radicchio plants – green, black or transparent. Radicchio growing on plastic, not dirt, can significantly increase the percentage of the heading.
Growing Belgian Endive. Dig up the chicory root to create a blanched head and cut off the top about 2 inches above the root crown or top. In a dark, damp spot, such as an outdoor pit, cold frame, or root cellar, bury the root to cause it to grow a blanched sprout. Cut off the tip of the root so that the root is 6 to 8 inches long. Position the root upright angle in a bowl, pot, or other container filled with fine sand, or just cover the top with a mixture of sand and peat moss; water thoroughly and hold at a temperature of 60 ° t The compact, the pale-green head grows within 3 to 4 weeks.
It will take 85 to 100 days for the chicory root to hit harvest. Belgian endive may take 3 to 4 weeks after beginning the process of pressing and blanching; cutaway leaves when 5 to 6 inches above the ground and buries the plant to grow to harvest when new heads are 3 to 5 inches in diameter. When leaves are 3 to 5 inches long, and a head has grown or leaves can be picked loose, Radicchio is ready for harvest.
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