Organic Red Chicory: Pintone TT

Description

Organic Red Chicory: Pintone TT. Cichorium intybus.

Pintone TT is a classic Italian radicchio with dark red and white leaves. This flavoursome variety is grown in the Treviso area of Italy in winter and is eaten, root and all. It has high resistance to cold, growing best in cooler spring and summer months in cooler locations. It is a very early variety that is suitable for harvesting from the end of summer and throughout the winter. Radicchio also grows well in containers, pots, or raised beds. It can also be grown between plants in your garden, growing well under leaves of other plants in partial shade. Grows with uniform, compact heads and is ready for harvest 100-110 days after planting.

How to grow

Sow seeds thinly into well prepared soil May to September, or later in a polytunnel. Harvest individual leaves when small. Or allow to grow till it gets a heart, allow 30cms between plants.

Problem solving

Keep slugs off when young.

Favourite ways to eat them

Blanching, (sit it for a couple of minutes in boiling salted water) and then frying lightly with oil and garlic, served with lemon and salt, is pretty scrummy. Also great for crunchy salads in autumn and early winter.

Cultural history

Native in Europe, a member of the dandelion family, it’s roots used as a coffee substitute.

Contents:  0.5g (~300 seeds).