Growing guide

Best time to plant radicchio in Australia

Cichorium intybus

Also called leaf chicory

Red leaves streaked with white veins and a bitter, spicy bite set radicchio apart. This perennial form of chicory is a leaf vegetable that grows in a head and features often in Italian food. Grilling or roasting softens its sharpness, and varieties take their names from Italian regions.

On a shared plot: suits a plot

Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.

When to sow

ZoneMonthsHow well checked
CoolOct to NovNot yet checked against a local guide
SubtropicalApr to JunNot yet checked against a local guide
TropicalApr to JunNot yet checked against a local guide
AridJun to JulNot yet checked against a local guide

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Growing details

How to start
Raise seedlings, then transplant
Sowing depth
5mm
Plant spacing
10cm
Row spacing
20cm
Height
15cm
Germination
4-7 days at 15-18°C
Time to harvest
65-85 days
Frost
Hardy, takes a light frost
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
perennial, usually grown as an annual

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Further reading on this plant