About
Cichorium intybus 'Pan di Zucchero' is a chicory variety that forms upright rosettes of pale green foliage marked by distinct white veins, culminating in a crunchy center. This variety is best harvested in the autumn months, specifically from September to November.
About the genus
Cichorium comprises both annual and perennial species characterized by loosely branching stems. The leaves are either toothed or pinnately lobed, and the plants produce dandelion-like flowers, typically blue, which tend to close by early afternoon during the summer months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Sand, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow seed direct, 1.5cm deep between April and August. Thin out to 25-30cm apart and harvest between September and November. Alternatively sow indoors from March in modules and transplant out in Summer. See vegetable cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, slugs and snails
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free