Tips for growing raddicchio

[maricybele]

Hoping I can get some tips for growing Raddichio. I love it, it's beautiful in the garden, but never get much of a head. I have grown a few types, but was wondering what the easiest varieties to grow are and tips on timing.

Thanks

[steev]

Does it have to be radicchio, or would you consider other chicories?

[oxbowfarm]

Well, I start it as a transplant mid-summerish and transplant out late summerish for fall harvest. SOme of the fancy hybrid varieties like Indigo are a little more reliable to head up than the OP stuff. I am surprised you are having trouble as your climate should be a better fit for it than mine. Are you trying to grow it in the summer? It only heads up really well in cool weather. I'd go to a farmers market and ask around about the best timing for for seeding/transplanting/harvest. My timetables aren't going to work for you in the PNW.

[ottawagardener]

I like to have a feral population of chicories going. The seeds I threw down on the fall last year didn't sprout until around early-mid summer and are making beautiful heads now. I'll harvest some and let some go to seed. The normal advice is mid-summer for fall harvest. What kind are you trying?

[12540dumont]

Is their a companion plant for radicchio or endive?

[steev]

Not so much; they usually keep small, yappy dogs.

[12540dumont]

In one of the land grant universities they did a test and found that radicchio headed better when grown on plastic. Doesn't matter whether it is clear or black. I read it some time ago, but don't remember the study. I do love the heavy plastic that we've been using in the melon plots. Haven't tried it with the radicchio.

At the "Cheese Festival" there was a farmer selling "endive" the blanched sort. $15 for a box of 3.

So, I'm pretty impressed. Tasted great. A piece of endive stuffed with blue cheese, sprinkled with nuts and sun dried tomatoes. Okay, so even I bought a box. I spoke at length with the farmer and he said that if you want to give it a try, take a few heads and put a milk carton around them. They need dark for blanching. I'm thinking the chicken yard in early spring.

My plants are just about ready for transplant. One tray of radicchio and one of endive, back right corner. This is a mixed batch, some heading, some not. So much to do!

Attachments:

[12540dumont]

Steev,
If this is the companion dog, I'm sending him straight to you, he can plague your rodents. No yappers please. Not even for radicchio.

Attachments:

[steev]

Any help greatly appreciated. I took some cukes and toms to my neighbor across the road and we discussed rodents. She says they've had mice in the house the first time ever and that they've never seen vole holes all over their frontage before. The ground squirrels are so bad in their horse pasture that they were destabilizing the posts of their barn, so they got kin to come spend a day out there and they shot 80 of the verminous rodents. These folks have ~6 dogs and the same of cats, and still they can't keep up.

[12540dumont]

Steev, When I was in high school, my father had a tenant here on the farm. They raised a whole field of melons. When they realized they couldn't sell them and make a profit, they didn't pick them. They just up and vamoosed. The neighbor called us. OMG there were rats running in the field in broad daylight.

I organized the first every rat shoot and bbq (burgers not rats). The boys came down, armed for bear and shot rats all day. It was a day to remember. As in what teenage boy doesn't like to shoot things, eat burgers and drink 3.2 beer?

My dad plowed the whole thing under afterwards. And last year when the migrant workers left their camp and lots of houses went empty, was the first time we've even seen a rat since that time.

Now what about that radicchio?

[steev]

So you're saying this guy was selling witloof chicons 3@$15? I need to get my chicories going, cool weather is coming, but right now I've got 15 Brassicas and mibuna to pot up and plant out.

[12540dumont]

www.endive.com/
California Vegetable Specialities (On Deev) to you. Watch the video!

Talk about $$$ to grow something. I'm pretty sure this is not how they do it in Belgium...

They were at the California Cheese Festival...you know, "Happy Cows", not like those out in New York, where they double as sled dogs...where I learned to make cheese and milk a cow.

[steev]

Once I get a cool root cellar, I might grow some chicons the old-fashioned way. Having no interest in mass-marketing, I sure won't be investing in such high-tech methods. Besides, the year-round availability of a seasonal food, even if it's a "delicacy", kind of takes the edge off its specialness for me. I really like the progression of the seasons, with all that implies, as opposed to "just another damned day in paradise".

No doubt those "Happy Cows" are treated to high quality worn-out chicory roots, but I'll bet they aren't valued members of a family, like a cow that both gives milk and pulls a load, or a wife who not only cooks the farms produce well, but pulls the plow in the field for planting; there's a blessing to a farmer.

[12540dumont]

And Oxbow, if you're listening, I thought that was a beautiful cow and am green with envy. I love snow. I love cows. And I've got seeds for you. If I forget, let me know, I'm swamped.

Steev, we'll see you on Thursday. Will save best tomatoes for you and bring a Naples Squash....so you can taste them before growing!

[steev]

Regretably, I don't expect much tomato-wise for a week or so; I'm just picking little ruffly ones so far, although lots of them, but I'll bring you a bunch of Flame Tokay grapes, a Sooyow Nishiki cuke, an Israeli melon, and some voles, prime breeding stock! Don't thank me; one must share Nature's bounty.