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Chicory
May 8, 2020 16:09:49 GMT -5
Post by davidjp on May 8, 2020 16:09:49 GMT -5
Does anyone have any hints for growing chicory or varieties to choose from.
I've grown them as part of a salad mix but never as a stand alone vegetable. I understand its very much like lettuce except as winter approaches you can get heading varieties that have the most gorgeous colours which can be used in salads or cooked. I guess then they are called radicchio.
Heres a castelfranco variety from rare seeds
www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/radicchio/castelfranco-radicchio
Looks like they are a big Italian specialty as if you look at some Italian seed sites there's 20 varieties to grow.
I'd be interested if anyone has any advice. Its just not something I have any experience with.
Thanks
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Chicory
May 13, 2020 11:36:26 GMT -5
Post by James on May 13, 2020 11:36:26 GMT -5
" Its just not something I have any experience with. Thanks "
Me too. Sorry I can be of no help. I suppose you can try it out and see how it goes, then take pics and let us know?
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Chicory
May 13, 2020 16:21:59 GMT -5
Post by gardendmpls on May 13, 2020 16:21:59 GMT -5
Grew it once a long time ago. Took forever to head-up, and then found it was too bitter for me.
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Chicory
May 13, 2020 17:23:44 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on May 13, 2020 17:23:44 GMT -5
The only time I grew chicory/radicchio it also took a long time for mine to head up, and I was not fond of the dishes that I tried it in. I liked the related endive and escarole when I grew them, but not radicchio.
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Chicory
May 14, 2020 18:31:33 GMT -5
Post by davidjp on May 14, 2020 18:31:33 GMT -5
It seems to be having a moment at least in the northwest. Theres an annual chicory festival that's been running for a couple of years.
www.chicoryweek.com/
Its highly instagrammable, do a search and theres some gorgeous photos of all different sorts with lovely shades of red, pink and flecks in between. Plus you can sell it for quite a lot and seattle is on a vaguely similar latitude and climate to northern Italy and has lots of small organic farms in the area.
I've been growing it for salad mixes for years and it is pretty bitter but in a salad mix it blends quite well and I like the complexity of flavours it brings in a mix. Recipes for it are another thing, I've really not experimented with, apparently leaving in iced water reduces the bitterness and braising in balsamic vinegar and honey sounds quite good.
I've sown some radicchio and we'll see. The catalogue I have from seeds of Italy has 43 different varieties of chicory/endive/radicchio so theres quite a diversity. It seems in Italy its quite a big crop with food festivals centred around it and each region having their own varieties
Photos from www.chicoryweek.com
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Chicory
Sept 6, 2020 17:02:45 GMT -5
Post by davidjp on Sept 6, 2020 17:02:45 GMT -5
Seems to be starting to head up so we'll see i guess when winter descends. These are palla rosa types
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Chicory
Oct 8, 2020 22:16:52 GMT -5
Post by davidjp on Oct 8, 2020 22:16:52 GMT -5
Starting to head up so waiting to harvest soon
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Chicory
Oct 8, 2020 22:27:29 GMT -5
Post by desertwoman on Oct 8, 2020 22:27:29 GMT -5
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Post by James on Oct 9, 2020 9:23:49 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing!
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Post by davidjp on Oct 9, 2020 21:55:35 GMT -5
Trying to work out the best way of using chicory now. Worked out well with a nice looking salad today for lunch
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Post by davidjp on Oct 18, 2020 16:17:52 GMT -5
My ongoing chicory experiment. Next stop trying to work out decent dishes with them. A palla rosa type straight from the garden After trimming down Cutting open Briefly blanched, then braised with garlic, vegetable stock and anchovies and a touch of sugar to try to balance the bitterness
Worked out pretty well, really interesting flavour unlike any I've had before. Still fairly bitter but I quite liked it. Side dish for Sunday lunch with some roast lamb.
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Chicory
Oct 24, 2020 14:07:56 GMT -5
Post by davidjp on Oct 24, 2020 14:07:56 GMT -5
A cool event is happening today as part of chicoryweek Its RAD TV on youtube. Sagre Di Radicchio. A whole day of live radicchio events. From growing, cooking to just lovely tours of farms growing fantastic varieties of chicory www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbzTuIn3u1Ewatching eating a Rad salad. Loving the tours of radicchio forcing caves. I think I'll need to improvise a rad cave
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Post by davidjp on Oct 25, 2020 15:57:52 GMT -5
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Post by Wheelgarden on Oct 25, 2020 16:08:39 GMT -5
davidjp , both of my grandmothers made chicory coffee when I was young, though I never tasted it. I've made dandelion root coffee the same way, it's pretty darn good.
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Chicory
Oct 25, 2020 17:12:49 GMT -5
Post by desertwoman on Oct 25, 2020 17:12:49 GMT -5
New Orleans coffee has chicory in it and one of my favorite coffee substitutes is a German beverage called Pero which is made with barely, malted barley, chicory and rye. Wheelgarden, davidjp,
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