Chicory, Cicoria Rossa Di Treviso (Tardiva)

Rossa Di Treviso (Tardiva) Chicory. . Radicchio, Treviso Tardiva (Treviso 4). Late, 110 days An Italian favorite from Northern Italy and the first Italian vegetable to be issued with DOP status like Champagne. Needs the frost to turn red and easily resists sub zero temperatures. Compact long heads. . Sow May-Aug and Harvest Oct-Mar. Long slim white stems with brilliant red contrasting tops. Direct seed or transplants; space plants at 12" in the row and 12-18" between rows. Time the planting so that heads are ready to harvest after the weather cools down. Best color contrast comes if you blanch plant with six inches of root in darkness for 3 weeks or so at 45-55 F. Tender and crunchy.  Compared to the "early" type, the late one is less bitter, more crunchy and its leaves are more lanceolate. This precious vegetable is called the king of winter.  Plant this in cells, transplant out, let them grow. These are an awesome variety and fun to grow.  4 gram packet, approx. 2,400 seeds.