Radicchio, Leonardo

Leonardo forms tight, round heads of deep red radicchio with crisp white ribs and that signature bitter-sweet flavor. This variety is more heat-tolerant than most radicchio, making it easier to grow.

Radicchio: Introduce a touch of bitter Italian sophistication to your garden and kitchen with stunning burgundy radicchio heads, beautifully veined with white. This gourmet chicory delivers vibrant color and a grown-up flavor to salads, mellowing dramatically when grilled or roasted into a sweet, caramelized complexity. Thriving in cool weather, its tight heads store exceptionally well, with cool nights and frost intensifying both the color and sweetness, making fall-grown radicchio superior.

• Growing Tips: Transplant in late summer for fall harvest, spacing 8-10 inches apart; grows best in cool weather and improves after frost.

• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade (5-6 hours minimum).

• Preferred Soil: Rich, well-drained, consistently moist soil; benefits from regular fertilization.

• Harvest Details: Cut whole heads at base when firm and colored (typically 65-85 days); heads improve after light frost; can store for weeks in refrigeration; bitterness mellows with cooking.