Chicory
Red chicory from Treviso
Red chicory from Treviso: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Treviso red chicory is a radicchio with elongated red leaves and contrasting white ribs. It belongs to Cichorium intybus, in the daisy family, alongside the chicories used for Belgian chicons. Curly endive and escarole belong to another species, while lettuces are a different crop altogether. Its name refers to the market gardening tradition of Treviso in Veneto, northern Italy.The plant first develops a rosette of long leaves, followed by a heart whose tightness depends on the type. Its slender shape can resemble a chicon, although its colouring is very different. Thick, crisp white veins contrast with the red leaf blade, the softer part on either side of the rib. Young leaves can remain green before becoming more strongly red as temperatures fall. The appearance of the heart therefore changes with the season rather than remaining identical throughout growth.The Treviso radicchio group includes early and late types. Early forms generally have…
