How to grow radicchio for seed?
 

Im interested in saving seed from radicchio as my local supplier sells if
for more than crack occaine. (They dont sell rock. You have to get that
somewhere else.) Ive only ever saved seed from lettuce and spinach.

When do you plant it? How do you look after it? What do you do with it over
the winter? Im afraid that I havent figured out what my Zone is but I am in
a submediterranean climate. The variety that Im growing is some kind of
Palla Rossa (85 days).

Robin

"Robin H" wrote:

When do you plant it? How do you look after it? What do you do with it over
the winter? Im afraid that I havent figured out what my Zone is but I am in
a submediterranean climate.

I looked up Chicory in Suzanne Ashworth's "Seed to Seed" (highly
recommended, though I don't get a commission). Your climate is probably
mild enough to winter over some roots, which will then blossom and set seed
the next season. Be aware that all the chicory varieties, including any
you may have growing wild, can cross-pollinate. You might have to cage
your plants to assure a pure strain. Ashworth says 1/2 mile separation is
needed.


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

Robin H wrote:
: Im interested in saving seed from radicchio as my local supplier sells if
: for more than crack occaine. (They dont sell rock. You have to get that
: somewhere else.) Ive only ever saved seed from lettuce and spinach.

: When do you plant it? How do you look after it? What do you do with it over
: the winter? Im afraid that I havent figured out what my Zone is but I am in
: a submediterranean climate. The variety that Im growing is some kind of
: Palla Rossa (85 days).

I grow this at 400feet in Yorkshire (UK of course), and it over winters,
though I cloche them. I simply stake them, allow them to flower and seed.
Pretty blue flowers brighten up the veg plots. The seed I don't gather
(thats most of it) simply self sows. I'm always finding a few self sown
plants around. I can remember the variety I started out with 8 or more
years ago.

In article , Gary Woods
writes
Janet Baraclough wrote:

We can buy very nice radicchio and chicory in shops in the UK

And here too... I was just saying that they are close kin, and seed growing
is done the same way. Just had a reply, in fact, from Michigan, and they
said radicchio overwinters there, so it's hardier than some references
would indicate.
I may be on dangerous ground here, but do "Queen Anne's Lace" (wild carrot)

Wild carrot - Daucus carota grows wild particularly around the
coastline, but isn't usually called 'Queen Anne's lace' which is
reserved for other abundant umbellifers such as Cow parsley (Anthriscus
sylvestris).

They don't grow particularly well in gardens so aren't regarded as weeds
in the same way as, eg, bindweed, chickweed, dandelion. think Ground
Elder is our only really nuisance umbellifer

and "Ragged Sailor" (wild chicory) grow as weeds in the UK? Many American
weeds, like most Americans, are immigrants after all!

We have wild chicory, but not very abundant, so definitely not though of
as a weed.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"