in

How to Harvest and Store Radicchio

Radicchio

Sharing is caring!

Harvest radicchio almost any time during growth—when leaves are just 2 to 3 inches (5-7 cm) long or after a head forms and is firm to the touch.

Radicchio matures 60 to 64 days after sowing.

Related articles:

Radicchio harvest

Radicchio will grow green or reddish-green until cold weather arrives then leaves will change to a range of reds, from pink to dark burgundy.

When to harvest radicchio

  • Grow radicchio to mature in spring or fall; the optimal growing temperatures for radicchio are in the 60°sF (15°-20°C).
  • Sustained temperatures in the mid to high 70°sF (21°+C) will cause radicchio to send up a seed stalk (called bolting) and become bitter. If hot weather is predicted it is better to harvest the crop and store it in the refrigerator than watch it go to seed and become inedible.

Kitchen Helpers from Amazon:

How to harvest radicchio

  • Cut radicchio leaf-by-leaf if you don’t want to pull or cut the whole plant at once.
  • Snip or break away older leaves—whatever size—from the outside allowing younger leaves at the center (called the central bud) to continue growing for later use. This type of harvest is called “cut-and-come-again.”
  • Radicchio also can be harvested whole. Cut the head away from the roots a little above the ground with a serrated knife.
  • If the weather is cool, but not cold, leaves will re-sprout from the crown of the plant and be ready for picking in about two weeks.
Radicchio and greens
Store radicchio and other greens in a cold and moist place.

How to store radicchio

  • Store radicchio in a cold and moist place (32°-40°F /0°-5°C and 95 percent relative humidity). Place radicchio in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section.
  • Radicchio will store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Radicchio that matures in cool or cold weather will hold in the garden for several weeks and even under the snow if protected by a thick layer of straw mulch or a plastic tunnel or cold frame.

Also of interest:  

Growing tips: How to Plant and Grow Radicchio

Kitchen tips: Radicchio Serving Raw and Cooking

Radicchio Seed Starting Tips

Garden Planning Books at Amazon:

More harvest tips:

Learn when and how to harvest your favorite vegetables for the best flavor and texture. Get storage tips for each crop. Click on the vegetable you are growing below.

Written by Stephen Albert

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

How To Grow Tips

How To Grow Tomatoes

How To Grow Peppers

How To Grow Broccoli

How To Grow Carrots

How To Grow Beans

How To Grow Corn

How To Grow Peas

How To Grow Lettuce

How To Grow Cucumbers

How To Grow Zucchini and Summer Squash

How To Grow Onions

How To Grow Potatoes

Garlic roasted

Five Ways to Cook and Serve Garlic

Kale in garden

How to Harvest and Store Kale