*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.
Type: Rosso di Verona Variety: "Romeo" Days to Maturity (slot): 85 (early-mid)
Rosso di Verona is our insiders choice of the red heading chicories. Relatively unknown in the US market it doesn't have the flashy appeal of the the tall Treviso Precoce, or the ubiquitous market power of the Chioggia but it's wonderful production and culinary characteristics make it favorite in our family.
One of the older types, Rosso di Verona dates back to the 18th century when like most radicchio of the time, it was produced by forcing. Through generations of selection it became the field heading variety we recognize today. Named after their center of production in the Veneto, Rosso di Verona are characterized by their small size (about the size of a large fist), compact egg-shaped heads, and prominent central white midrib on the leaves. There is a lovely interplay between the bitterness of the leaf and the sweetness of the white midrib especially well into the fall and into periods of consistent frosts.
More a cooking than a salad radicchio, its manageable size is perfect for wedging and grilling, roasting or sauteeing. A top choice in our home for pizza toppings, grilled veg + radicchio sandwiches or to toss with pasta. Top choice for weeknight risotto too (save the tardivo for the weekend).
About the named varieties... For most vegetables, in order to provide a continuous harvest over a long period of time, growers stagger planting dates throughout the season which in turn provides a continuous harvest as the plants mature to eating stage. With radicchio, a different strategy is employed. For the most part, the majority of heading radicchio is best suited to seeding around the summer solstice (transplanting in the second-third week of July). To achieve a longer harvest period, rather than staggering planting dates, breeders have developed different varieties within a type with different days-to-maturity harvests. These are often referred to as "slots" with many types having early, mid, and late slotted varieties.
