Chicory 'Sugarloaf' – (Cichorium intybus) , offered by Weston Seeds
'Pain de Sucre', or 'Pan di Zucchero', is a classic Italian variety of the Sugar Loaf type, renowned for its broad, dense, rounded leaves. Bright light green in colour, they form a voluminous, firm, tight head, offering a crunchy texture and a sweet, delicate flavour. Ideal for fresh or lightly blanched salads, this chicory is perfect to accompany your summer or autumn meals.
Days to maturity : 90 to 100 days
Head size : 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm)
Plant height : 28 to 33 cm (11 to 13 inches)
Spacing between plants : 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 inches)
Exposure : Full sun
Sowing : Direct sowing
Quantity per pack : nd
Cultivation method:
Sow directly into the ground as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Plant seeds 1/8 inch (3 mm) deep in rows 18 inches (45 cm) apart. Maintain consistent moisture throughout the growing season to ensure well-formed, tasty heads. When seedlings are 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall, thin them to leave 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm) between plants.
Harvest by cutting the leaves about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the base, being careful not to damage the crown. This method encourages new growth, extending the harvest.
A versatile and tasty chicory!
'Sugarloaf' chicory is ideal for lovers of fresh and crunchy salads. In addition to being a choice ingredient for Italian dishes, it can be eaten in salads, lightly cooked or blanched to reduce its natural bitterness. Its firm texture and delicate flavor make it an essential chicory for your vegetable garden. Easy to grow and resistant, it is perfect for extending your harvests until late autumn.
