Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste

What Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste is

Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste (Cichorium intybus) is a perennial vegetable of the Daisy family (Asteraceae). Chicory Sugar of Trieste is a very delicate variety that has tender small leaves of a green colour.

Chicory plants harvested while still small and 5-7 cm tall keep a sweet and pleasant flavour.

On the other hand, if you let them mature for two weeks, they acquire a more intense flavour tending towards bitterness.

Chicory is a food rich in vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which helps regulate blood pressure and fight hypertension.

The plant is a powerful antioxidant.

Chicory (radicchio, sugarloaf chicory) is a crunchy, bittersweet salad for autumn and winter.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 90%
• Pack size: 1 g
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: May – July; direct
• Harvest: August – December
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste

Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste seeds are sown in May – July. Harvest in August – December. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Cultivation does not require special treatments; it can be sown in the soil or in pots, and its growth is fast and steady. To improve the quality of the vegetable, it is important to water twice a week, up to four times depending on sun exposure and outside temperature. Annual leaf chicory is a great winter vegetable. Seedlings can be prepared in advance in March-April. It should only be sown from mid-June. Sowing depth is 0.5-1 cm, ideal germination temperature: +20-25°C. Germinates without complications in 7-14 days. Planting distance: 30-40 cm. Loves sunny to semi-shaded spots with permeable, humus-rich soil. 8-12 weeks after sowing the firm heads can be harvested. Suitable for storage.

Sow from May to July; thin in good time and water in drought.

Harvest and use

Pick the heads in autumn — frosts soften the bitterness.

Frequently asked questions

When should Chicory Zuccherina di Trieste be sown?

The recommended sowing months are May – July. Sowing method: direct.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 90%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Why is chicory bitter?

Bitterness is characteristic of the species; frosts and blanching soften it.