Radicchio (Rosa del Veneto), 'Rosato'

*This seed is offered as part of the "Gusto Italiano Project", a collaborative partnership between Uprising Seeds, Italian breeders Smarties.Bio, and the Culinary Breeding Network. Certified organic seed is grown in Italy by Smarties.Bio.

Variety: "Rosato"
Type: Rosa del Veneto
Days to Maturity: 120-130

If Rosso di Chioggia was the ambassador to the first wave of radicchio in the US, Rosa del Veneto is surely that of the second wave. In this time of sumptuous food photography and social media produce divas no radicchio has garnered as much attention in the past year or two than these pink beauties. Its hard to wrap your head around growing something so beautiful that you can eat.

Rosa del Veneto types are a relatively recent addition to the radicchio family and there's really not another salad leaf that falls in the same stunning spectrum of salmon to pink color. Extremely cold hardy and very late to develop its color, these are at peak from late Nov through Feb from a summer solstice sowing. Don't be surprised that they stay green well into November most years. It would be a shame to waste the color on cooking so they are most often pulled apart and/or shredded for raw salads. Leaves are substantial and pleasingly bitter.

Packet: 100 seeds