Top 20 Varieties of Chicory to Grow: Tips, Advice, and Facts

Chicory is a versatile, leafy green vegetable that is often used in salads, as a coffee substitute, or cooked in various dishes. Known for its slightly bitter flavor, chicory adds a unique taste to meals and is packed with nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber. Chicory can be grown for its leafy greens or its roots, and different varieties are available for various uses, including forcing for Belgian endive. It’s a cool-season crop that thrives in well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering. Here’s your guide to the top 20 chicory varieties to grow, with helpful tips, interesting facts, and answers to common questions.

Top 20 Chicory Varieties to Grow

1. Radicchio di Chioggia

Tips: Radicchio di Chioggia grows best in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Water consistently to keep the leaves tender.
Facts: This popular radicchio variety produces round, red heads with white veins. It has a mildly bitter flavor and is perfect for salads or grilling.

2. Belgian Endive (Witloof)

Tips: Belgian endive requires two stages of growth—first the roots are grown, then they are forced in darkness to produce tight, white heads.
Facts: This variety is prized for its crisp, white leaves with a mildly bitter flavor. It’s great for salads, braising, or as a cooked vegetable side dish.

3. Radicchio Treviso

Tips: Radicchio Treviso prefers cool weather and full sun. Water regularly and mulch to retain moisture.
Facts: This Italian variety produces long, deep red heads with white ribs and a mildly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for grilling or adding to salads.

4. Sugarloaf

Tips: Sugarloaf chicory grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Water regularly to keep the leaves tender and sweet.
Facts: This variety produces tall, conical heads with green leaves and a mild flavor. It’s great for fresh salads or cooking.

5. Catalogna (Puntarelle)

Tips: Catalogna thrives in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Water consistently to keep the leaves tender and sweet.
Facts: This variety is known for its long, serrated leaves and tender, hollow stems. It’s commonly used in Italian cuisine, especially in salads or sautéed dishes.

6. Radicchio Verona

Tips: Radicchio Verona grows well in full sun with regular watering. Harvest when the heads are firm and compact.
Facts: This heirloom variety produces small, round heads with deep red leaves and white veins. It has a slightly bitter flavor and is perfect for salads or grilling.

7. Magdeburg (Root Chicory)

Tips: Magdeburg thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Water consistently to encourage strong root development.
Facts: This variety is grown primarily for its roots, which are roasted and ground as a coffee substitute. It also has edible leaves that can be used in salads or cooked dishes.

8. Pan di Zucchero

Tips: Pan di Zucchero prefers full sun and fertile soil. Water regularly and mulch to retain moisture.
Facts: This variety produces tall, green heads with a mild, sweet flavor and tender leaves. It’s perfect for fresh salads or cooking.

9. Radicchio Castelfranco

Tips: Radicchio Castelfranco thrives in cool weather and full sun. Water consistently to keep the leaves tender and sweet.
Facts: Known for its pale green leaves with red speckles, Castelfranco has a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s great for adding color to salads.

10. Frisée (Curly Endive)

Tips: Frisée grows well in full sun with well-drained soil. Water regularly to keep the leaves tender and reduce bitterness.
Facts: This variety produces curly, finely cut leaves with a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for adding texture to salads or using as a garnish.

11. Scarlet Red Chicory

Tips: Scarlet Red Chicory prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Water consistently to ensure tender leaves.
Facts: This variety produces vibrant red leaves with a mildly bitter flavor. It’s ideal for fresh salads or grilling.

12. Cornet de Bordeaux

Tips: Cornet de Bordeaux grows best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Water regularly and mulch to retain moisture.
Facts: This French variety produces long, cone-shaped heads with green leaves and a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for fresh eating or cooking.

13. Radicchio di Lusia

Tips: Radicchio di Lusia prefers full sun and rich, moist soil. Water consistently to keep the leaves tender and reduce bitterness.
Facts: This variety produces pale green leaves with red speckles and a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s great for adding color and flavor to salads.

14. Anivip (Italian Dandelion)

Tips: Anivip grows well in full sun and well-drained soil. Water consistently to keep the leaves tender and reduce bitterness.
Facts: This variety is similar to dandelion greens and produces long, dark green leaves with a slightly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for salads, sautés, or adding to soups.

15. Bianca Riccia

Tips: Bianca Riccia thrives in cool weather and full sun. Water regularly to prevent the leaves from becoming tough.
Facts: This variety produces curly, light green leaves with a mildly bitter flavor. It’s great for fresh salads or as a cooked green.

16. Rossa di Treviso Precoce

Tips: Rossa di Treviso Precoce grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly to keep the leaves tender.
Facts: This early-maturing radicchio variety produces deep red heads with white veins and a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for fresh eating or grilling.

17. Grumolo Verde

Tips: Grumolo Verde prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Water consistently to ensure tender leaves.
Facts: This variety produces small, rosette-shaped heads with green leaves and a mild, slightly bitter flavor. It’s great for adding texture to salads.

18. Brussels Witloof

Tips: Brussels Witloof thrives in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Water regularly and force the roots in darkness to produce white heads.
Facts: This Belgian variety is grown for its blanched, white heads, which have a mild, crisp flavor. It’s perfect for fresh salads or braising.

19. Italiko Rosso

Tips: Italiko Rosso grows well in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Water consistently to reduce bitterness and keep the leaves tender.
Facts: This Italian heirloom variety produces long, red-veined leaves with a slightly bitter flavor. It’s great for fresh salads or cooking.

20. Radicchio di Treviso Tardivo

Tips: Radicchio di Treviso Tardivo prefers cool weather and full sun. Water consistently and mulch to retain moisture.
Facts: This late-maturing variety produces long, slender red heads with white ribs and a slightly bitter flavor. It’s perfect for grilling or roasting.

Common Questions About Growing Chicory

Q: When should I plant chicory?
A: Chicory is a cool-season crop and can be planted in early spring for a summer harvest or in late summer for a fall and winter harvest. The ideal growing temperature is between 50-70°F (10-21°C).

Q: Can I grow chicory in containers?
A: Yes, chicory can be grown in containers as long as the pots are at least 12 inches deep and wide, with good drainage. Varieties like ‘Frisée’ or ‘Radicchio di Chioggia’ are especially suited for container gardening.

Q: How long does chicory take to grow?
A: Chicory typically takes 60-90 days to mature, depending on the variety. Early-maturing varieties may be ready in as little as 50-60 days, while late-maturing types may take up to 120 days, especially for forcing Belgian endive.

Q: How do I know when chicory is ready to harvest?
A: Chicory is ready to harvest when the heads are firm and compact, or when the leaves are large enough to use in salads or cooking. For root chicory, harvest when the roots are large and well-formed.

Q: How do I store harvested chicory?
A: Freshly harvested chicory can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, chicory roots can be forced in darkness to produce Belgian endive, or the roots can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.