Is it me, or does the name of this vegetable remind you of Pinocchio? LOL. We have grown a few of these now with strange names, such as jicama and the chayote. Actually I now enjoy tackling these not so common ones, which is exactly why I found myself doing some research on how to grow radicchio.
There are quite a few substitutes for lettuce when it comes to salads, and this is one of them. When ready for harvest you will have red cabbage like heads. These can either be eaten raw, steamed or sauteed. You can have as many as two harvests every single year, one in the Summer and the other one in the Fall. However, when first starting out, it maybe wise to aim for just the one harvest.
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Here’s What You’ll Need:
- radicchio seeds
- compost
- organic fertilizer
- mulch (optional)
Just like lettuce, you can direct sow the seeds into your prepared raised garden bed or container. Ideally, you want a nice sunny spot, with average soil. The best time to sow your seeds is about 14 to 21 days before the last frost. You want your rows to be about a foot apart, sow your seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil. Germination will take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks.
When it comes to maintenance, you want to make sure your plants are weed free. The easiest way to do this is to apply a layer of mulch. Also provide at least an inch of water weekly. Keep an eye our for downly mildew, aphids, cabbage looper, flea beetles, leafminers and slugs. Generally speaking, they should be ready for harvesting in about 2 months.
You can get more information on the Burpee blog, here…
You can watch the video below on How To Growing And Planting Radicchio…
You can watch the video below on HOW TO GROW RADICCHIO AT HOME…
