Grow chicory for beautiful hearts of radicchio, dense and bittersweet, or for chicons

Vigorous plants best sown summer rather than spring, grow strongly after the solstice and I show the beautiful hearts you can have. In my garden the harvest period is September to November.
A look at Palla Rossa and Treviso types, and I explain how you grow chicory roots to force 'chicons', which in France are called 'endives'.
I sell books and a calendar from my website, with information about growing these and the timings you need, charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...
Follow me on Instagram charles_dowding, Twitter @charlesdowding and Facebook.
More about my growing history charlesdowding.co.uk/charles-...
My website has much information about no dig, for example charlesdowding.co.uk/start-here/
I have two online courses which include hundreds of photos and exclusive video content, for more information go to charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...
Videography at Homeacres 3rd September 2018, and then editing by Edward Dowding my son edowdingfilms.onfabrik.com/po...

[@preciousmetalhead5155]

When I am sick of hearing political pundits yell at each other I tune in some Charles Dowding gently discussing chickaree in a soothing tone of voice. I can feel my blood pressure falling as I type. Thank you CD!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Federal Reserve, lovely to hear, and it's my mission to restore peace and friendliness!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

You are doing exactly that Charles dowding!! This is my escape channel! I would love to meet and visit your garden one day! 😊

[@freesaxon6835]

You know, watching this video I said the same to my family, and the first comment I read was yours !

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

@@freesaxon6835it's so true. I definitely love to come here more often than any other channel because the sound of his voice is just so soothing and the peacefulness it brings me is exactly why I love watching Charles Dowding! There was something about this channel the first time I came across him and I watch him everyday now just to have that peace in my life he always brings from his gorgeous home and garden! This is my dream one day, to have a place as beautiful as yours!

[@freesaxon6835]

@@StaceyHerewegrowagain agreed, being close to nature, and gardening should be this way, not having ' attitude' nor any other agenda, just insight and peace

[@LK-pp1jo]

Hi Charles, your garden looks so beautiful, it's like a paradise. Love your channel😊👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Liana

[@michaelo6124]

I have to say that this is one of your best videos. Lots of information. Big thanks!

[@ssg8051]

Thank you, Charles. Cheers, Ardith

[@PrincessShaBooBoo]

I will incorporate this vegetable into my garden plan next year.😊 Thank you for sharing your lovely garden and great tips! 👩🏾‍🌾😊

[@liannevictoria]

oh I'm not too late! I'm going to try and grow these this year in the allotment, thank you Charles!

[@littlegirlhomegarden2022]

What a beautiful garden

[@Beano2100]

Have grown this variety 506TT this year (2020) and they have been fantastic. Beautiful flavour. Slugs don't seem to do any damage to the heart. Store well in the garage. Will definitely do next year. Thanks Charles for the details and also the encouragement to try.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Excellent, thanks for feedback Gareth :)

[@walkbyfaithfamily9177]

This was so helpful! I planted radicchio this fall and tried to harvest the baby greens for salad- I decided I didn’t like it because they were so incredibly bitter. Now I know to let it keep growing to form a heart! Can’t wait to try again! :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Micki and remember to sow July, date depends on your zone. Fall sowings may not have time to heart before winter

[@walkbyfaithfamily9177]

Charles Dowding - yes! Thank you! I planted way to late for them to form a heart. I am in Nebraska- right at the center of the US- zone 5b. Our first frost date is about October 10th. How long do they take to form a nice sized heart?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

About 3 months, suggest sow early July, try 12th July as well for varied results

[@juliebates5315]

Thank you for this very helpful video! 🦘

[@PickledPoacher]

Love chicory. So easy to grow and it.is a versatile eating crop.. We cook the outer leaves like Spinach. This removes much of the bitterness if people don't like that high tannin flavour. Many of these bitter plants act as a diuretic, Chicory, also dandelion leaves and so on.. So they technically assist the body in cleaning radicals from blood. They are particularly useful to those subject to high blood pressure. Garden looks wonderful as ever Charles, another great video. I find since I have left the UK that I look forward to seeing your updates in particular

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

All very interesting, thanks for this and great you enjoy the videos.

[@emilypickett6401]

Nothing more relaxing than watching some Charles Dowding gardening videos on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@milliewilliamson9531]

Thank you for another lovely video, always so enjoyable to watch, and I'm going to try growing some of these this year!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You will like growing and eating them Millie, check out the 560TT, Seed Coop sell them

[@chezgiardino]

Beautiful! I love radicchio roasted on pizza with heavy cream and black pepper

[@Alonsel3]

I thought I'd failed planting these so late in summer here in Tasmania. But after watching this I think mine are right on track for a late autumn harvest. Thank you for the informative details Charles it's always a pleasure.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck! Late can be good, for harvest when fresh leaves are scarce

[@mawibiaksiamlethil1046]

I love ur garden and like the seeds

[@jackherer5728]

Closing in on the big 100000!

[@patriciavincent5076]

I have beautiful chicory/radicchio now! But it has been a relatively rainy, cool summer here so far. I've grown it despite myself. Great information, as always. Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh wow! the weather has clearly helped, the plants think it’s autumn!

[@benneb663]

Yeahhh Boiiii! Late summer early fall, pea shoots to chicory, in no dig lay them all. Charles the great, always making videos to date. Not one bit of hate, food abundance before frost shows we planted to late! Amen brother.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for your poetic comment! Amen.

[@PENFOLD1962]

Your voice is so clear and relaxing, you should have your own TV SHOW👍😎👍. Yet again a very clear, concise and educational video... Thank you 👍😆👍BIG BIG BIG THUMBS UP👍😉👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Andrew and pleased to help

[@upupandaway5646]

Endless thanks .

[@siren858]

Hello from sunny Hobart, Tasmania AU. I've been growing no dig for the last 10 years and love it. Chicory is a favourite autumn veg for us too and the outer leaves are quickly cleaned up by our small flock of hens and our pet rabbits. Really enjoy your informative videos, thank you,

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Debra, Hobart sounds lovely. Super to hear of some long term no dig, combined with animals too.

[@wcgirl]

Thank you Chsrles..great I fo. I love these bitter greens and I want to try growing them I'm in Florida so we'll see what happens! Winter is our best growing season though

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, maybe sow now for hearting late winter

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Thanks so much for sharing I love watching your Channel. You have such a great, clean & bug free looking Garden. That's so hard here in Florida with all the bugs we have. I have to grow everything on raised beds or in containers. I can't wait to move so I can do it right. You have such great information and I really love watching you in your garden, there is just something about your Channel over everyone else that is so calming and peaceful!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Stacey many thanks for your comment, it's nice to think I am spreading peace, though it's the plants and soil life really, or perhaps our synergy. Interesting about the bugs in Florida, from here your climate looks pretty nice, especially in our winter months!

[@regencylass1183]

You have such a beautiful garden. I'm in the process of planning my plot layout and including chicory/radicchio for next year thanks to you. We get bitter cold winters, though little snow, with temps -20°C and some years even colder. We usually get our first around the 10th of October, but haven't had it yet. I'm not complaining, mind you, since I'm still picking loads of tomatoes. Your videos are a both a delight and educational, are easy to follow and implement, and I always look forward to them.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for your comment, nice to hear that the videos are easy to follow, and radicchio hearts could make a good veg to store for you, cut them say late October.

[@JasonSmith-tv2zw]

That open version of the plant is sold all over Italy and is very popular in it's own right. I've grown them a couple of times but find the slugs get more than me, great video again Charles

[@FrankEdavidson]

"De Trieste"?

[@mariaapelqvist3855]

I have grown my first chickoys this year, I must say that I love them! So easy to grow and I really like both the taste and the texture. My plants are still doing great, in end of october.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice result Maria

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

wow, everything looks so amazing, it looks amazing, i cant wait till summer, i have to say, every year i am learning so much, the weather have been so hard. but i think in a few years ill be much imporoved. i have summer growing down! but i struggle with winter and spring harvests! I want to gave something growinf all year round

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great ambition, and these are a good example of sowing in early July, when we are all desperately busy and you have to make a note to remember!

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig yes yes yes you are completely correct! I noticed that last year! I will have to give it a go this year! As I need something to do over winter and spring lol

[@whatdidyouthinkwouldhappen1203]

I will try chicory this year, never have grow it in the 30 plus years gardening, pretty plants also. The aphids got to my kales like crazy this year, yours look so beautiful. Again thank you for sharing. Have a great day.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear and remember to sow them late June early July for best results,

[@stevendowden2579]

great video again

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

cheers Steven

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

My 1st taste of Chicory, was saute of the winter sprouting of the root & garlic. I was impressed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Anna that is cool

[@sherry1867]

Oh i can just imagine the smell of the plants and the earth. So completely beautiful and the veggies look delish Charles. I am patiently waiting for the spring to start planting in my no dig garden! If you could only see how beautiful compost is. LOL Well i think it's beautiful :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I so agree. Sounds you have a good connection there.

[@Daniel-qj3tp]

I’m going to grow these after seeing this😀

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I am pleased to hear that!

[@gliOrtidiMauro]

thank you for your teachings, no dig from Italy.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Gil!

[@NoShitMr]

His name is Mauro not Gil. :D Gli Orti di Mauro means Mauro's gardens in Italian. :D

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks :)

[@eadjh98]

Lovely produce James, nice healthy looking plants, and really getting the most from your beds! Also love the measurements from £s shillings and pence to millimetres to yards feet and inches! 👍

[@eadjh98]

Sorry James I meant Charles! Lol just love your videos, helps me to try something different!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Love your comment, prefer Charles to James and yes I am aware of a big audience in good ol' USA!

[@user-py9ow5fg7k]

Excellent

[@AnimalFarm341]

Love your channel, I’m in the PNW of the USA and your zone and climate is very similar to mine. Most relevant content I’ve found for where I am. Thanks for all the information.

[@Shanmammy]

I’m PNW too, it more inland. Closer to Spokane WA. We get more snow and it’s colder here. His climate seems to be closer to Portland area, don’t you think?

[@AnimalFarm341]

@@Shanmammy I’m in the Seattle/Tacoma Area. He is just slightly cooler than here.

[@Shanmammy]

@@AnimalFarm341 neither you nor I have to deal with the humidity though, at least I don’t...

[@AnimalFarm341]

@@Shanmammy it’s damp here bulk of the year

[@davidshinn6501]

Just lookiing back at this post which inspired me to grow Palla Rossa this year from seed ,on my allotment a little inland and 300 feet above Morecambe Bay. The plants have grown fairly slowly and have only really got going in the last six weeks. A couple of days ago I cut the first one to heart up ,so quite a bit later than your down in Somerset. Maybe I need to try to sow them earlier next year.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good try David and yes that looks a plan to sow 2-3 weeks earlier. Plus they will grow faster as your soil improves.

[@shonitagarcia3222]

Wow! I have never grown Radicchio or Chickons or chickory! They look so beautiful. Beautiful harvest. Gorgeous garden. Thank you for sharing.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great, have a go!

[@freesaxon6835]

Your veg always looks so violently green & healthy, a real credit to you. Looks as if it's fit enough to pull itself out of the soil are march up and down.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Free Saxon, I agree they are wonderfully vibrant!

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

You are such an inspiration to everyone Charles Dowding it seems. Gardening is such a peaceful escape into the beauty of what nature has to offer us and we are so privileged to be apart of it. I can't wait till we move next year so I can start setting up my dream garden! You make me want to follow my dreams even more than I could of ever imagined possible! I am so grateful for you and what you bring to the world through your channel! I hope to accomplish the same message one day and help as many people I can to see the beauty that is right in front of us! Thank you!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely comment Stacey, I wish you well.

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you Charles, coming from you that means a lot! My gosh your garden is beautiful!

[@gallopingg1]

brilliant.

[@MsAnamonique]

I've spent so much energy in digging and rotating and basically disturbing my front garden and continuously battling with weeds. Until I saw your video, and binge watched them hahaha I converted my flower garden and now I'm going to make them vegetable front no dig garden. PS I live in city townhouse and my backyard had very little sun. Thank you for soothing education 😍 love from down under.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful! thanks and good luck

[@MsAnamonique]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you again for such amazing education.

[@lisalisa5461]

Wish u would post more often

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

I love watching him! Really, there is just something about the way he talks and speaks about plants that make him so peaceful to watch! His property is gorgeous!

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

Takes time to make for him to make videos and he has some one else edit and publish his videos. Probably one of his team 😀.

[@FrankEdavidson]

Videos take production time and he's running a business and writing

[@MistressOP]

This guy is the bob ross of guarding. if BBC was smart they'd have him on. Plz do more market gardening harvest videos. It was my favorite thus far.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@antonnunez6859]

Awesome, thank you. I’m trying to grow them for the first time here at San Francisco, microclimates in each neighborhood 😅

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck! Should work :)

[@CYRiPKK1]

I saw some beautiful pink chicory plugs as you mentioned in my local gardening center. It has the prettiest soft pink shade with a hint of salmon. I imagine it would be perfect for those who are interested in edible landscape.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice idea Christy

[@ismaelestevez2212]

Hi Charles , you should incorporate the "Berza Galega" or Galician kale to your collection , it's a heirloom of the omnipresent Atlantic kale , from the Galician region. The huge leaves , the hardiness and the tenderness at the same time won't disappoint you. Cheers

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ismael I shall look out for it

[@fraggleVenus]

Oh wow thank you, it's my first time growing them this year and they're starting to form hearts now and I wasn't sure what to look for at harvesting 😊😊 P.S I live in New Zealand and it's just starting to go from summer to Autumn now, also Kia Ora

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool nice to hear and I realised half way through your comment that you are southern hemisphere 😀 Keep checking for firmness, you will love the flavour

[@veradejong9437]

I like your chicories

[@baddoggie101]

I live in the high desert of southern Arizona. I planted my radicchio late March and ate a few of the green outer leaves today. They are a bit bitter but tolerable with other food. I look forward to dining on the hearts. I suspect I could grow them in a cold frame in the winter around here as it is so warm.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds a good start and yes you could I reckon. Sow August perhaps, even early September. Your current sowing may not heart much before they flower, I would cut them as soon as you see a flower stem, makes them more bitter!

[@ronyerke9250]

We got a pretty significant frost las night. Our lawn was very pretty, but our other plants are pretty much done for now.

[@darby8196]

I love your videos Charles, your garden is a dream. Would you consider uploading some drone/aerial footage of the property so we can get an idea of the layout/scope of the place? Cheers!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Darby, and it's on the cards for winter!

[@glossblack2045]

Wish i was retired so i could keep a garden like this

[@karlar8648]

Why wait? I life temporarily in a travel trailer and held my seeds for 2 years and asked myself why. Now i'm growing. In clay pots of course. But i'm growing.

[@giacomogaiatto3813]

For the Treviso type radicchio (the variety with long thin leaves) the industry standard method is pulling the whole plant when it's about 20-30cm tall, wash the soil off the roots and place the whole plant in a container with water (covering the roots only) and left in darkness for about 2-3 weeks, the outer leaves will start rotting down but in the center it forms a beautiful and clean hearth. I have tried this method last year for the first time just using a couple of buckets in the basement and it produced phenomenal results. This year I will try also with the other Treviso type which has more of a bullet shape.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Giacomo, that is amazing

[@ladaminuetkittens5216]

Mr. Dowding, you definitelly should have some rabbits. They would be so happy with all those leaves. And they would provide free meat and free fertilizer for you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou!

[@brittinghammerforge9441]

I have yet to have success with radicchio. I have failed two years in a row. I tried early spring, and then I planted too late in the summer July. This year I will get it hopefully. I’m going to start sees in mid June. I live in zone 7b. Thanks for the info.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds right and a good variety too

[@laurad2136]

I transplanted radicchio in May and they are growing beautifully. No risk of flowering so far but guess i was lucky as the temperatures havent been very high. We are in east kent. I am now sowing other radicchio and fingers crossed will get a nicer weather going into autumn. Ah, an i followed a square foot gardening with 4 plants in one square foot 🤭 being too greedy

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Laura you are firtunate with the weather but they won't grow betond mid September I reckon, before flowering. Good you sow now. That is a close spacing, and the hearts will be small I reckon. Good luck

[@laurad2136]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks,actually some have really nice hearts so will see. I guess that's how I learn. It's my first year of no-dig and my 4th of SFG (so combining the two). I am keeping my notes on your diary and planning for what's coming next 🌱🌱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@laurad2136 genius!

[@shihtzusrule9115]

During the American Civil War the Confederate soldiers would make coffee out of chicory..is this the same, I wonder. The North believed that a soldier who had coffee in the morning would fight better so they tried to keep their soldiers in coffee. I think the Confederate soldier was first given coffee and then after that it was up to him to get his coffee. Coffee was hard for them to get so they turned to making coffee from chicory. I'll have to look this up. I love radicchio, it is my favorite after romaine.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear this Shih and yes, roast chicory root (variety Magdeburg) is used as coffee substitute, for example in France. I like it a lot, dark and bitter. It dilutes the caffeine... It's said that when Prussia invaded France in 1870, Bismarck arrived at a cafe and asked the proprietor to bring out all the chicory onto the table where he was sitting. Then Bismarck asked for a coffee!

[@GordonjSmith1]

Always wonderful to watch! I noticed that you refer to 'forcing' chicon. Any chance of a video discussing that? I am interested in forcing Rhubarb, and hadn't realised how our 'chicory' (chicon) came into the world!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Maybe... I had not planned any but you never know.

[@albusdumbledore1940]

I have just planted mine. They are very small i hope they survive the cold at the moment. Looking at yours i think i have planted them a bit close together actually.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You could harvest a few early August to thin them out

[@primrose1630]

كيف الحال لماذا التاخير يلا المزروعات الجميله روعه جدا 🌱🌱🌱☘🍀👏👏👏👏👍👍

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

One of my favourite vegetables! I grow a hybrid variety called Indigo, sold by William Dam seeds, which gives reliable round hearts. Slugs do eat it, but as long as the growth tip is not damaged they will recover. This year, sniffle, the deer broke through netting to get at them. Good to know they are a deer favourite. My favourite way of eating them is raw in a salad mixed with finely chopped apple.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes I have grown Indigo, they are good and like you I had deer eating them. They ate out the hearts, maddening, but bird netting over the top prevented any more damage. A tasty recipe, I do similar!

[@dianneleon35]

What variety? Sweet or sour?

[@dianneleon35]

I meant for making a salad with apples....

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Dianne I use eating apples, quite sweet.

[@dianneleon35]

@@CharlesDowding1nodigThank you, I'll give it a try!!! I home school my daughter. We will be trying our 1st garden this spring for food. If we get enough extra will be going to sell at local farmer's market next summer/fall. Thank you for your inspiration and have a good day.

[@AwardOnlyDK]

Another great walkthrough Charles! Personally I've always had a thing for bitter salats! Question besides the video: I've wondered about whether the "floor" of your garden rises when you keep adding say 5cm of mulch every year. Is this a problem you've encountered over the years? It puzzles me - especially with an annual mulch inside the greenhouse .. All the best! Peter

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Peter, It's a fair point but compost settles and consolidates so the garden rises little

[@MMutig]

Thank you for the wonderful video ☺️ I am curious as to why it seems important for the Chicorée to form hearts and why you throw the loose ones on the compost instead of harvesting the outer leaves as you do with most other greens. With best wishes from Germany! Mica P. S. I'm so sad I missed your class near Frankfurt last weekend since I was in France... even more since it was only 2houres ride from my home! I hope it was a success, not only because you deserve it so very much (!) but also so you will hopefully want to return soon 😉☺️

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Mica. Actually we had just 12 people and a few more would have been nice, but there were 45 in Luxembourg and the whole weekend went very well. Felix's garden is impressive. Chicory outer leaves are more tough and bitter than hearts. I and my customers prefer the latter.

[@rosanarml7143]

😍😍😍

[@inge5797]

Du hast so einen schönen Garten - ich beneide dich darum

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Danke schon

[@Gybe1132]

To grow the forced chicons are these from roots sown in June/July???.. Really appreciate your intelligent time saving approach

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes, or even May for fatter roots and larger chicons!

[@stephaniehanuman-dale6279]

How do you eat these? I have some I need to harvest but I’m not sure what to do with them. I just harvested an escarole endive that I plan to make a white bean soup with but not sure how to to use the red radicchio.. Would they be good sautéed? Thank you for for any ideas . Your video popped up in my feed just in time 😀

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You have done well. I eat them in mixes of salad with other leaves, the heads broken apart. Roasting is amazing, needs oil for flavour and to soften them. Cut in quarters lengthways.

[@annpage5524]

Hi Charles. I planted out my chicory on August 10th having sown them mid July. I'm hoping that's not too late. I have used your Winter veg book for several years but this is the first time I've managed to get my act together to sow things at about the right time! They have put on a lot of leaf - is it OK to pull off some of the big outer leaves if they've had slug damange? I have some Treviso in the same bed - I noticed in the video that yours were in a mushroom box - was that for forcing under cover somewhere?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds ok timing, yes remove damaged outer leaves. You will find slugs! The Treviso can grow outside and yes I planted roots in the trays to force them.

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

So green frise endive is related even though they don't form a tight head?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes

[@wtfn.z2441]

Cool thanks for the tips on chicory I was so surprised at how fast it grew.... I am harvesting mine at the moment but it's late spring and their still quite happy behind our fence .... it only gets morning sun. Maybe that's why ?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes perhaps. I would look to harvest most of them before December, in case they start to bolt.

[@eadjh98]

Sorry meant Charles!

[@nikolinashtabekova2518]

Thanks fir the Info. Where dо you live,btw? Greets from Sofia,Bulgaria!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Somerset SW UK

[@OrtoInScatola]

Hi Charles, I just bought your salad book on Apple Books (I like that you can make the fonts bigger there) and was wondering about how to deal with European earwigs. I find that my salads tend to become inhabited by them, they make some damage and ruin most hearts as they love the shade of the inside of the hearts and the humidity that naturally accumulates in the middle. So far I have avoided growing salads because of this, but this year I have been trying your method of harvesting he outer leaves and that works relatively well. However would you have any advice on this type of pest?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Francesco Gallarotti I am not sure, can only say that they have always been present in some numbers here, without causing damage

[@elizabethshealingpath6366]

I just planted an Italian radicchio ... i thought chicory and radicchio were different. I was watching a documentary called Eden something and the do a no dig with wood chips. Have you done an experiment with that?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes I am unimpressed with fresh wood chip - too many woodlice/pillbugs and slugs, plus they keep soil cool in spring. Best for paths in a thin layer only. Radicchio is the heart of chicory. Only some varieties make hearts, mostly in autumn as here.

[@julieattard7098]

I'm hoping what I have is chicory.. the outer first lot of leaves are fury. The middle is starting to fold in . Do it trim away the older leaves as you would a cabbage?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Julie, and leave all the old leaves on chicory, unless rotting. They do look very different as young plants, and then develop more colour, and a round shape as they mature.

[@julieattard7098]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig phew!! Thank you!! X

[@athyvandenberg289]

Hi Charles, i had sown red chicory straight into the bed in late summer. But nothing came up. I will try next year to sow them in modules first. Eveline

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes do try that!

[@athyvandenberg289]

Charles Dowding I tried it again in modules they came up and I planted them out, but they never made hearts and the leaves were too tough and very bitter, even cooked. I think that I need to give them bigger spacing, will that help? Eveline. Ps I love your new book, No dig gardening course 1

[@andrewhague1521]

How late can you harvest them. It's mid to late November now, but I don't think I got mine in early enough and at the moment they're not very big. If I leave them will they get bigger. (Pallo Rosso)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Growth is now slow Andrew and soon they switch from hearting to flowering mode. Leave to grow another month or so.

[@andrewhague1521]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Bless you Charles, that's encouraging.

[@FrankEdavidson]

How deep are the roots? Are those grown in a perennial bed? I'm looking for a variety for green manure to break up soil, to chop and drop the foliage for organic matter and I'll maybe eat some. The quantities at the agri vendors are just too large though. Do Pallo Rossa, De Trieste or Bruxelles root deeply?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Frank mine are transplanted and therefore less deep. Sow direct for deeper roots and sow early July no later. Yes you could use garden chicory.

[@FrankEdavidson]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Many thanks. I doubt they would establish now (end of August) for overwintering

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Exactly, I would sow mustards at this stage say white mustard Synapsis alba, is killed by frost so easy sowing next spring

[@ConnieDAgostino]

Hello Charles I find the chicory plant confusing because there are so many varieties. My family and I would go out into fields and gather chicory but resembles the dandelion plant...cicoria in Italian. Are they related to the endive or the chicory in this video? This seem like a silly question to most but this is confusing to me. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Connie they are all the same family, closely related. What you see in the video are cultivars selected and bred from the wild chicories you mention. It is Cichorium intybus. Endives such as frizzy and scarole, with their bitter green leaves, are closely related, Cichorium endivia. Then confusion arises because the word "endive" is used in parts of Europe to describe chicons, which grow from roots of chicory, in darkness.

[@ConnieDAgostino]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for the clarification. This is very helpful!

[@Enduro26]

Has anyone found a way to get hold of 506TT etc. I.e that are more likely to heart. I can find no way since we left the EU

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Bingenheim do still ship to Britain, but it will cost more. Still worth it!

[@ChrisCurious]

You can harvest the radicchio heart of the chicory, then store the cleaned root in a tub of soil in a cool place and then bring warmth to it in the spring and force it?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes exactly, or force them over winter in a cellar or a dark room in your house

[@ChrisCurious]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Awesome, thank you for this inspiration and all of the inspiration that your media gives! My wife and I started a market garden this year on the east coast of Canada and one of the markets we vend at is very well attended by the local German, English and other European expat populations. I think this novel 2nd winter harvest will be very well received.

[@tinamfarquhar2805]

How do you keep the weeds out off your garden

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No Dig method is key, see this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5m6p6mtZ9R6fqM

[@RobertWilliams-wq9od]

Can you show us how to grow celery from seed?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Maybe one for next year Robert

[@alexmason1022]

Seems a shame to compost the outer leaves (and I haven’t got any chickens). Is there any reason I can’t eat them? And can I pick them as a cut and come again crop?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes to both of those. However the outer leaves are more tough and bitter, but definitely edible

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

2:10 That looks like a Dandy lion weed.😀

[@OrtoInScatola]

Chicory is from the same family as dandelions, so the plants can look surprisingly like their weedy cousin.

[@christiebrooks1876]

Hi there, greetings from North Florida :) I am a new subscriber, my husband has been following you for a long time on Instagram. What is your watering method? Do you have irrigation or do you hand water? How often? I'm sure this information is around here somewhere. We bought 5 acres this past April and I'm finally ready to design my dream garden!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Christie, see my Watering video. I water by hand, uses less and we have reasonable rainfall. But this summer was dry and it took more time. Still for me more viable than an irrigation system. I wish you well in the new prperty!

[@christiebrooks1876]

Thank you so much for the reply. Ive watched your watering video and several others, very informative and detailed! I love the way you keep things from being too complicated.

[@Stacey_Robinson]

Charles, can you tell me what is the difference between what people call frisee and endive? My grandmother used to call it "shcarole" like as in escarole but it seems like sometimes people refer to it as endive or curly endive. Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

The words are confused Stacey. As I understand it, scarole is large leaved endive plants, frisee is serrated leaved endive plants and (here is the killer) "endive" as in markets is forced chicory, bright yellow cones grown in darkness. Not really endive I think!

[@Stacey_Robinson]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you very much! I'm always trying to find frisee in the store it's my favorite but it's very rare and the name confusion doesn't help to find it. :) Wish I could just grow my own!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You can in pots/boxes if no garden, sow June-July

[@Stacey_Robinson]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig hmmmm.. maybe I'll try it this year! :D thank you!

[@dextercerak]

Hi Charles, Is the palla rossa 506 TT and 206 TT a hybrid?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No, both are open pollinated

[@dextercerak]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Charles.

[@poacherDan]

Hello Charles I hope you don't mind me asking but what do you do with all the crops you grow do you sell ?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Harvey and yes, to local shops and restaurants, sales are around £20k per annum

[@poacherDan]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig wow that's fantastic so you can earn a living out of this I'm looking to make my this my career thank you so much for sharing what you do you are a inspiration to many fellow growers .

[@crystalcvt]

i'm a little confused, when you say chicory, it seems like you're not referring to the blue dandelion plant used as a coffee substitute, but rather plants in the family chicorum that have leaves, is that correct? i'm trying to understand why chicory has two meanings

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are correct, it's a broad word, here is Cichorium intybus var. foliosum / radicchio. It's Magdeburg chicory for 'coffee'

[@crystalcvt]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig makes sense, thank you!

[@valeriecahira1272]

Is this the same kind of chicory used as a coffee substitute in america?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's related but a different chicory cultivar: roast chicory root (variety Magdeburg) is used as coffee substitute, for example in France. I like it a lot, dark and bitter. It dilutes the caffeine... It's said that when Prussia invaded France in 1870, Bismarck arrived at a cafe and asked the proprietor to bring out all the chicory onto the table where he was sitting. Then Bismarck asked for a coffee!

[@valeriecahira1272]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you

[@phannittachompubut5797]

😀

[@spuddyl9938]

I just harvested my first chicory. Now, how do i eat this?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Bravo. Either cut in in pieces to eat raw with a dressing, or cut in quarters then roast with some oil in a medium oven 20 minutes.

[@spuddyl9938]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you for the tip. I did just that and it was delicious! It truly is bitter and sweet at the same time.

[@growinglongisland]

#lifegoals

[@christinaperez254]

I'm so timid about growing bitter veggies...not sure how to incorporate them into the kitchen. 😞

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Interesting comment! Start by adding a sweet dressing. Bitter is v good for the liver, and they are bittersweet in the heart, really worth a try.

[@christinaperez254]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig , thank you! I promise to give it a go! I just found a few recipes online.... One with sauteed radicchio with Italian hot sausage, sweet peppers and onions. Yum! Also, after watching a number of your videos I'm FINALLY translating many of the British names for veggies into American terms. Rocket= arugula, calabrese= broccoli, and now chicory= radicchio! So interesting! I learn so much from watching you.

[@NoShitMr]

If you like coffee or beer you won't have problems liking bitter. :)

[@joecrablone286]

Try small amounts in a big bland salad. Sweet/sour dressings. Bitterness is often increased by sun/heat/drought (nibble a dandelion leaf from shade vs from full sun).

[@wtfn.z2441]

I made a bitter salad last night woke up feeling great and my cold went away over night. Salad had red and green lettuce sorrel pink chard spinach parsley kale carrots cucumber and tomatoes + basic vinegar olive oil dressing..... also the chicory outer leaves are great as long as you don't let them get to old or hot.

[@darkbloom9218]

Where will the rest of those cut leaves and roots go? To the compost. 😊No waste. Mother Nature's love.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I compost them. Chickens would like them. Growing like this, there is plenty to eat.

[@darkbloom9218]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with gardening sir. I learned a lot! I have a question sir. I live in Asia, in a tropical island where we only get dry/hot and wet seasons. Should calabrese or cabbage seeds be planted the same month as yours? And can I do the same thing with soil like the ones you do in your videos- compost on top? Will natural garden soil and compost enough?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good questions. I would sow the seeds any month actually, no seasonal constraints. Yes the compost mulch should work, unless you say have termites!

[@darkbloom9218]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig That's what I feared before. It's good to know that I can plant my veggies anytime of the year. But speaking of termites, will the treated soil be safe to plant? Or shall I wait and add compost? Thank you so much for teaching us! I learned a lot from your videos. God bless! 😊

[@rubylawrence8024]

how on earth are all your plants so big and not eaten. Do you give them a secret formula? if so please tell

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ruby my aim is to explain this in the video! But first the soil has to be fertile and no dig is key for that. + compost mulch, no straw or hay

[@rubylawrence8024]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig excellent thank you so much ! I am really looking forward to grilled rachichio

[@assadangam8372]

มันคือผักอะไร

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

หัวใจของชิกโครีที่สุกก่อนฤดูหนาวจัดเก็บได้ดีและมีรสขม + หวาน

[@MiltonTheTortoise]

Hi Charles, thank you for posting this video. I was delighted to find this one in particular as I wanted to grow Radicchio, mostly for my tortoise who loves them as part of his everyday food! Funnily enough, when I lived in the USA, I was able to buy the hearts from grocery stores for $3-$4 but now living back in the South West UK I find that there are few options to buy the hearts, and they are VERY expensive! What more incentive is needed to have a go at growing them?! I've opted to start with seven Leonardo F1 plants brought from a garden centre. They are now in decent sized pots, as garden space is limited but I also have some Palla Rossa seeds and a Franchi Misticanza Di Radichi (chicory salad mix) to start from scratch. Do I have the timing right (mid-June) to sow seeds and propogate on a windowsill? Thanks for all the advice in the video and I wish you well. PS. I hope all is well in Zumerzet? It will always be home to me. Proper job!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Phil, all well here! Timing is good and until early July. Those varieties are okay, but will not make the tight heads you see in my video. It's difficult to buy good varieties

[@MiltonTheTortoise]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Quick update on the Radicchio - all seven plants bought from a garden centre are doing great (something had a nibble at one) and I hope they will start to fold in and make hearts in a month or so. I have also used your instructions in the Chicory video in starting some new seedlings and will use your timeline to track progress.