The Chioggia type Rosso Precoce Presto (red, early and precocious) radicchio produces heads of about 8 to 10 cm in diameter and weighs on average 340 g (3/4 lb). Dark red in color with white stripes and globe-shaped with a flat base, it keeps well in a cool place after harvest. Slight bitterness. Heat tolerant.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Seeds           ~150

Difficulty        Medium

Sowing         Direct, Indoor

Lifecycle       Annual

Root cellar    No

Sowing

Season         Spring, Summer

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperatures for germination: 16 to 22ºC

time for germination: 5 to 12 days

When to sow:

indoor sowing 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area OR

direct sowing when the soil can be worked in spring

Sowing technique: in pocket

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep only the best plants and eat the plants that have been removed.

for indoor seedlings: transplant into individual containers while waiting for transplanting in the garden OR

for direct seedlings: transplant to their final location in the garden

Transplanting outdoors (for seedlings started indoors):

When all risk of frost is removed

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 30 cm

between rows: 45 cm

Height of the plants: 30 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Exposure: full sun or light shade

Harvest time: 85 days

Specificity:

It grows well in pots or window boxes.

Radicchio is a popular Italian vegetable that is widely used in that region but is not as well known in other parts of the world. It has an appearance that is similar to lettuce or cabbage, but what exactly is it?

Radicchio is neither lettuce or cabbage as it comes from a separate genus to both of these plants. It is most closely related to lettuce as both plants come from the same family and tribe however it comes from a separate genus which means that it can be considered to be a distant cousin.

Radicchio comes from the chicory family which includes things like endive. It is a plant that has a similar appearance to lettuce when grown in the garden due to its leafy outer leaves but the inner leaves have a distinctly different appearance.

Due to the lack of light, these leaves take on an appearance that is similar to a red cabbage which is a plant that it is often confused for. The reason that this plant has inner red leaves and outer of green leaves is because of the exclusion of light from the inner leaves which results in a lack of chlorophyll which is the chemical that produces the green colour in most leaves. The other distinctive feature about Radicchio is that it generally has a more bitter flavour than either lettuce or cabbage due to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones in the leaves.

Sesquiterpene lactones are also responsible for the bitter flavour that can be produced in lettuce once the plant begins to bolt.