Chicories and Early Castelfranco Radicchio Castellano - 9 Plants - Orto Mio

Growing Tips

Orto Mio guidelines for the species, to be adapted to the variety, local climate, and cultivation in soil or pots.

Exposure and Temperature

Sun, tolerating summer partial shade. Optimal growth at 15–20 °C; late radicchios tolerate the cold better. Strong temperature fluctuations favor pre-flowering.

Soil and Transplanting

Fertile and draining soil, pH 6–7. Generally 25–35 cm in-row and 40 cm between rows. Leave one-third of the cube above the soil. The correct timing depends on the variety's cycle and the expected harvest.

Watering

Regular watering in summer, less frequent than for lettuce. Wait for the surface to dry. In autumn, water moderately only if necessary; avoid waterlogging.

Fertilization

Moderate nutrition, without excess nitrogen. For late varieties, prioritize potassium and suspend fertilization one month before harvest.

Care and Harvesting

Weed and protect during cold transplants. Self-closing radicchios are ready when the heart is full and firm. Cycle, possible tying, and forcing should be evaluated for each specific type.

Indicative Producer Data

The values are indicative: the harvest cycle varies with season, climate, and cultivation conditions.