Radicchio / Chicory 'Variegata di Castelfranco' (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) seeds

Slightly frost-tolerating, late, Italian radicchio variety with quite uncommon leaf coloration: Light green-white with dark red speckles.
Contents: Approx. 300 seeds
Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly

€2.39

Product number: CIC02 GTIN: 4250601204260

Description

Decorative chicory with relatively open, very light green, almost white heads with red speckles. Due to its graceful appearance Variegata di Castelfranco is also known as orchid lettuce. It's a traditional Italian radicchio, visually more like a lettuce, but with the slightly stronger, thicker leaves of radicchio.

The orchid lettuve tastes rather sweet and mild, not bitter at all. It is a real delicacy. Tortoises love this gourmet salad.

Use	Vegetable, Winter vegetables
Lifecycle	Biennial
Species	Asteraceae
Flower colour	Blue
Flowering months	August, July, September
Main harvest	April, December, February, January, March, November, October, September
Root system	Deep roots, Taproot

When to sow outdoors	July, June, May
Sowing depth	0.5 cm
Germination temperature	22-28°C
Germination time	1-2 weeks
Climate	Temperate
Soil type	Deep, Free-draining, Fresh, Humus-rich, Moderate nutrient levels
Sunlight	Full sun
Water requirement	High
Nutrient requirements	Medium feeder
Planting distance	20 cm
Good companion plants	Beans, Borage, Carrots, Dill, Fennel, Nasturtium, Peas, Tomatoes
Bad companion plants	Artischocke, Cardy, Celeriac, Chicorée, Endive, Haferwurzel, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lettuce, Parsley, Radish, Scorzonera

Sowing and care

Sow from mid June to mid August directly into fields. Sow the seeds about 1 cm deep in rows and later thin out to 30 x 30 cm.
Radicchio prefers good, deep garden soil in an open, sunny location and sufficient water. Avoid waterlogging. Harvest is possible from mid-September on. Tolerates light frosts of autumn. Image Source:
Goldlocki / CC BY-SA

Other names

Botanical name: Cichorium intybus var. foliosum

German: Orchideensalat, Radicchio, Chicorée

English: Radicchio, Italian chicory, Leaf chicory

French: Radicchio

Italian: Radicchio

Spanish: Radicchio

Manufacturer information: Magic Garden Seeds GmbH | Junkersstraße 7 | 93055 Regensburg, Germany | service@magicgardenseeds.com | https://www.magicgardenseeds.com

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