If you’re looking for a bitter green that will survive nearly everything from 6 feet of snow to 35°C/90°F days in summer, I heartily recommend radicchio.
Radicchio has definitely been the most successful of my greens grown in containers. It never wilts, has no pests and grows back quite rapidly after harvest. It was happy with a minimum of watering and equally as happy during a week of thunderstorms. If you’re a fan of truly bitter greens (as I am), trying being a little stingy with the water – a little dryness contributes to the bitterness factor.
If I had to pick something to hold against it, perhaps I’d mention that it doesn’t really fare well during hot DC summers.
Eh, something to look forward to in fall, right?
I noticed a week ago that the radicchio I planted last fall had finally begun to send up twin antenna towers. I figured it was about due to bolt but I didn’t expect such delicate purple flowers from such a bitter, hardy green. If you look closely, you can see their tiny purple eyelashes.
1 Comment:
Beautiful photograph – love being able to see the stamen set against the petals. Ethereal.
Posted by Arasmus on 23 July 2010 @ 20:24pm