Radicchio in Zone 2a & 2b

Cichorium intybus

When to plant radicchio in zone 2b

Zones 2a and 2b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Radicchio tolerates either.

Start indoorsApr 22–Apr 29
Direct sow / transplant outsideMay 20–May 27
Estimated harvestAug 3–Aug 10 (~75 days after planting)

Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1.5 ft.

Radicchio
Photo: Jeangagnon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.

Radicchio is a chicory grown for a tight, wine-red head with white ribs and a bitterness that people either build meals around or quietly compost. Grilled or roasted, the bitterness turns sweet. Raw in a salad in July, it can be close to inedible.

How radicchio fits zone 2's season

Zone 2b's frost-free window runs about 104 days, from May 20 to September 1. Radicchio needs about 75 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Radicchio.

Where to buy radicchio seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing radicchio" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 2b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Radicchio in USDA zone 2b

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Growing Radicchio in USDA zone 2b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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