Catalogna ‘Puntarella Galatina’ (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) seeds
- Rare Italian Catalogna with asparagus-like puntarelle shoots for traditional salads. <ai>
- Open-pollinated seeds - seed packet with approx. 100 seeds. <ai>
- Delicately bitter with a fine herbal note - harvest the tender flower buds before they elongate. <ai>
€2.79
Description
Here the young flowering shoots are harvested - not the lettuce head
Catalogna ‘Puntarella Galatina’ is a traditional Italian leaf chicory from the Cicoria Catalogna group. The selection originates from Galatina in Apulia and is known for its particularly compact growth and numerous shoots. Botanically, it belongs to Cichorium intybus var. foliosum.
The plants form a strong, heavy cespo with elongated, serrated, dark green leaves. Inside, thick, hollow, asparagus-like flowering bud shoots develop - the so-called puntarelle or thalli. These are harvested before they elongate into flower stems. This preserves their tender texture and finely bitter, pleasantly mild flavour. Because of their shape, they are sometimes referred to as “volcano asparagus” or asparagus chicory.
In Italian cuisine, the shoots are traditionally prepared raw as puntarelle salad with olive oil and anchovies or briefly steamed and served as a vegetable. With staggered sowing, a long harvest period from late summer into winter is possible. In sheltered locations, the plants tolerate light frost and produce tender shoots again in spring.
Plant profile
| Use | Vegetable, Winter vegetables |
|---|---|
| Lifecycle | Annual or biennial |
| Species | Asteraceae |
| Seed propagation | konventionell |
| Region of origin | Italy |
| Eventual height | 20-60 cm |
| Flower colour | Blue |
| Flowering months | -, in the second year |
| Main harvest | August, December, January, November, October, September |
| Root system | Taproot |
| Winter hardiness zones | 9 (-7 bis -1 °C) |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | April, August, May, October, September |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 1 cm |
| Germination temperature | 15-20°C |
| Germination time | 1-2 weeks |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Soil type | Free-draining, Humus-rich, Nutrient-rich, well-loosened |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Water requirement | Medium |
| Nutrient requirements | Medium feeder |
| Planting distance | 25 cm |
| Row spacing | 40 cm |
| Good companion plants | Carrots, Tomatoes, Zucchini |
Sowing and care
Sowing & Care of Catalogna ‘Puntarella Galatina’
Direct sowing takes place from April to May or from August to October. The sowing depth is about 0.5 to 1 cm. Catalogna belongs to the slightly light-dependent chicory types: the seed should only be thinly covered with fine soil or lightly pressed down. The optimal germination temperature is 15 - 20 °C, and germination takes 10 - 14 days. A spacing of 25 - 30 cm within the row and 40 - 50 cm between rows is recommended.
A very sunny location with loose, nutrient-rich soil is preferred. Even moisture without waterlogging is important. The variety is well suited as a follow-on crop and fits into mixed cropping systems, for example with carrots, tomatoes or courgettes.
Other names
Botanical name: Cichorium intybus var. foliosum
German: Catalogna, Puntarella, Blattzichorie, Spargel-Chicorée, Zichorie, Cicorino
English: puntarelle, Italian chicory, asparagus chicory
French: chicorée Catalogne, puntarelle
Italian: cicoria Catalogna, puntarelle di Galatina
Spanish: achicoria Catalogna, puntarelas
Dutch: catalogna cichorei, aspergecichorei
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