Radicchio 'Red of Verona' organic
Organic Radicchio 'Rouge de Verona' (Cichorium intybus) from the seed company Gaia, an Italian chicory with a deep red color, crisp, bitter, and enhanced by cold
Radicchio 'Rouge de Verona' is a heritage variety from Northern Italy, recognizable by its deep garnet-red leaves and its mild, elegant bitterness . It forms compact but slightly loose heads with a firm, crisp texture that holds up well to both raw preparations and quick cooking. This chicory thrives in cool climates and offers a long growing cycle, excellent bolting resistance, and a dramatic color change when temperatures drop.
Its flavor is refined by the cold, developing sweet and bitter notes characteristic of Italian cuisine, perfect in salads, grilled, roasted or sautéed.
Did you know that
Radicchio holds a historic place in Venetian cuisine. Originally, the leaves were not red but green. It was a farmer from the Treviso region in the 16th century who is said to have perfected a winter technique called imbianchimento , which involved exposing the chicory to cold temperatures and then forcing it in the dark. This process intensifies the red color and reduces the bitterness, giving rise to modern radicchio.
Even today, the deep color of 'Verona Red' only fully appears after exposure to cold , reproducing this centuries-old heritage.
Companion plants : Lettuce, tatsoi, mustard
Nefarious plants : Endive, escarole
Spread/Carry : Compact rosette
Plant height : 30 cm (12")
Quantity per packet : 50 seeds
Certification : Environmentally friendly product
Characteristics : Intense red color after freezing, refined bitter flavor, resistant to bolting, cool-season crop
Leaf color : Deep garnet red with white veins
Texture/flavor : Crunchy, bitter, slightly sweet after chilling
Cold tolerance : Down to -7°C
Farming method
Start seeds indoors 2 weeks before planting out . Sow at a depth of 6 mm (1/4") . Transplant as soon as the soil is workable in spring or after the hottest weather, typically around mid-August for optimal autumn production.
Radicchio thrives in cool, fertile, well-drained soil , prefers a sunny/partially shaded location (level 2) , and requires regular watering ( level 2 ). Cold weather is essential for achieving the red color and reducing bitterness.
Space plants 20 to 38 cm (8–15") apart and rows 60 to 90 cm (24–36") apart. Germination takes 10 to 14 days at approximately 18 °C .
Harvesting and preservation
• Harvest the young leaves for a fresh and crisp salad, knowing that their flavor fades quickly after storage.
• Harvest mature buds after exposure to cold for optimal flavor.
• The roots can be harvested after 4 months of growth for certain traditional culinary or medicinal uses.
Store the leaves in the refrigerator, ideally unwashed and slightly aerated, to prevent rapid loss of texture.
Usage ideas
• In colorful salads , combined with pears, citrus fruits or walnuts
• Grilled or roasted to soften the bitterness
• In risottos or pasta, Italian style
• Sautéed with garlic and olive oil
• As an accompaniment to rich dishes to balance the flavors
'Rouge de Verona' radicchio is a refined and historic chicory, capable of bringing color, character, and authenticity to vegetable gardens in cool climates. It perfectly combines visual beauty and gastronomic flavor.
