Semi di Cicoria Palla Rossa Medio Precoce

• Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory
• The mid-early red ball chicory Plant
• How to Sow Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory
• How to Grow Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory
• Tips for Growing Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory
• Diseases and Pests of Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory
• Properties and Nutritional Values

Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory

The mid-early red ball chicory is a highly regarded variety in Italian vegetable gardens for its balance between earliness and yield: it forms a compact, medium-sized head, ready for harvest with a slightly longer cycle than the earliest selections, but with greater uniformity and firmness of the heart. The leaves take on an intense red colour with clearly marked white veins.

The mid-early red ball chicory Plant

It belongs to the species Cichorium intybus, like all heading chicory and radicchio types. The head is round, tightly closed and uniform, with an average weight between 300 and 350 grams. The leaves, initially green, turn a deep, bright red as the first cool temperatures arrive, while the veins remain white, creating the characteristic colour contrast that makes this variety highly sought after for retail sale too.

How to Sow Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory

Sowing is generally carried out in mid-July in Northern Italy and towards the end of July in Central and Southern regions, to ensure a staggered harvest between October and December. It is sown in seedbeds or directly in the open field, at a depth of about 1 cm, later thinning the seedlings to about 30 cm apart along the row, with rows spaced 35-40 cm.

How to Grow Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory

It prefers fertile, well-drained soil and a sunny position. Watering should be regular but moderate, avoiding waterlogging that could cause crown rot. This variety offers good bolting resistance, an important advantage in summer sowings when high temperatures and long daylight hours could otherwise trigger premature flowering.

Tips for Growing Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory

To encourage the formation of a tightly closed head, it is best to avoid excessive nitrogen fertilisation in the final growth stages. During prolonged drought or excessive heat, supplemental watering helps prevent water stress that could compromise the head's compactness. The plant adapts well to different soil types but does not tolerate persistent frost.

Diseases and Pests of Mid-Early Red Ball Chicory

Like other chicory varieties, it can be affected by aphids, slugs and snails, especially during the early growth stages. In high humidity conditions, downy mildew or leaf rot may appear: good airflow between rows and watering aimed at the base of the plants significantly reduce the risk.

Properties and Nutritional Values

Like all red-leaved chicory, it is rich in minerals, B vitamins, vitamin C and antioxidants, and is known for its depurative and digestive properties. Its slightly bitter taste pairs well both with raw consumption in salads and with cooked preparations such as risottos, sautéed side dishes or oven-gratinated dishes.