Radicchio in Zone 5a & 5b
Cichorium intybus
Yes, radicchio grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Apr 12–Apr 19 and plant out May 10–May 17.
When to plant radicchio in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Apr 12–Apr 19 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 10–May 17 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 24–Jul 31 (~75 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of radicchio in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- TomatoMay 24–May 31
- Bush BeansMay 17–May 24
- Sweet CornMay 17–May 24
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
- CucumberMay 17–May 24
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Radicchio needs about 75 days from sowing to first harvest.
Radicchio planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 22–Apr 29 | May 20–May 27 | Aug 3–Aug 10 |
| 3a & 3b | May 2–May 9 | May 30–Jun 6 | Aug 13–Aug 20 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 17–Apr 24 | May 15–May 22 | Jul 29–Aug 5 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Apr 12–Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | Jul 24–Jul 31 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Jun 8–Jun 15 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | May 1–May 8 |
| 10a & 10b | Jan 2–Jan 9 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Apr 15–Apr 22 |
Harvest dates are about 75 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for radicchio.
Where to buy radicchio seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's radicchio seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Leonardo (F1): A Chioggia type with dense 4-5 inch heads and high bolt tolerance. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Fiero (F1): Upright, elongated 7-8.5 inch maroon heads with white ribs, in the taller Treviso-style profile rather than Indigo and Leonardo's round Chioggia shape. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Palla Rossa Mavrik (best for classic look, storage): Botanical Interests lists round, deep-red heads with very white ribs at 80-95 days, the classic Chioggia look sold under a different name than Indigo or Leonardo. Buy: Botanical Interests Full notes
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)
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Growing Radicchio in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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