Chicory "Pan di Zucchero" or Sugar Loaf Chicory is a heirloom Italian heading chicory known for its large, dense, sugarloaf-shaped heads. The light green leaves have a crisp texture and a mild, pleasant bitterness. Excellent for autumn and winter salads or lightly cooked. Very cold-hardy and ideal for late-season harvests.
Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus
Plant Life Cycle: Annual or Biennal
Optimal Germination Temperature: 20 C
Germination time in days: 10-14 days0
Indicative Days to maturity: 90-110 days
Sunlight: Full sun to semi shade
Soil requirement: Light, rich, well-drained
Sowing and cultivation: Sow direct from mid-summer to early autumn. Thin or transplant to 25–30 cm apart. Harvest before hard frost or protect with fleece for extended picking.