How to Grow Chicory Catalogna

Chicory Catalogna

Cichorium intybus var. foliosum

vegetable

Chicory Catalogna, also known as Italian dandelion or Asparagus chicory, is a leafy green vegetable prized for its tender shoots and leaves. It produces long, slender stems with deeply lobed leaves that resemble dandelion greens. This Italian heirloom variety is increasingly popular among home gardeners for its mild flavor and nutritional density.

Looking for a specific variety?

Puntarelle Catalogna Spadona Catalogna Friariello Asparago Magra

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade in hot climates

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. More frequent watering needed during hot spells. Reduce watering in fall/winter.

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Spacing: 6 inches

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Days to maturity: 50-70 days

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Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Peat moss or coconut coir Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-9; tolerates cool and mild climates well

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny leaves emerge 7-10 days after sowing; plants develop first true leaves with characteristic lobed edges

Keep soil moist but not soggy. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once they reach 2-3 inches tall. Provide bright light.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plants develop multiple rosette leaves with deeply cut, dandelion-like foliage; stems begin to elongate

Water consistently, maintain even soil moisture. Begin light fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Thin to final spacing if not yet done.

Leaf Development

2-3 weeks

Vigorous shoot and leaf production; plants form increasingly dense rosettes with long, slender stems

Provide consistent moisture and nutrients. Mulch around base to retain moisture. Pinch off any flower buds if extending harvest season is desired.

Maturity & Harvest-Ready

Ongoing, 3-8 weeks depending on harvest method

Plants reach 12-18 inches tall with abundant tender shoots and fully developed leaves; ready for continuous picking or harvest

Begin harvesting outer leaves and shoots. Continue regular watering and fertilizing if doing cut-and-come-again harvesting. Monitor for pests.

Bolting (Optional)

4-6 weeks

If left unharvested, plants produce tall flower stalks with blue or purple flowers and developing seeds

Allow to bolt only if saving seeds. Otherwise, remove flower buds to extend leafy harvest season. Bolting reduces leaf quality.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beets Carrots Chard Lettuce Onions Parsley Radishes Spinach Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Potatoes Tomatoes

Common Pests

Use row covers early in season, insecticidal soap, neem oil, or diatomaceous earth. Remove garden debris where they overwinter.
and
Handpick in early morning or evening, use beer traps, apply copper tape barriers, encourage natural predators like ground beetles.
Spray with strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, apply neem oil, or introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Handpick, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), neem oil, or row covers during vulnerable stages.
Increase humidity, spray with water, use miticide or insecticidal soap, introduce predatory mites.

Uses

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Sautéed Greens & Side Dishes

Culinary

Young leaves and shoots are tender and mild with a slight bittersweet flavor, excellent sautéed with garlic and oil, added to pasta, or steamed. Mature plants have more pronounced bitter notes prized in Italian cuisine. [source]

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Raw Salads

Culinary

Very young, tender leaves can be used raw in salads, providing a pleasant bitter note that balances other ingredients. Older leaves are better cooked. [source]

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Digestive & Liver Support

Medicinal

Chicory is traditionally used as a digestive tonic and supports liver and gallbladder function. Contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber that promotes beneficial gut bacteria. [source]

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Chicory Coffee Substitute

Household

Roasted chicory root has been used as a coffee substitute or additive since the 19th century, providing a similar flavor without caffeine. [source]

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Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Support

Wildlife

When allowed to flower, the blue-purple blooms attract bees and other pollinators. The plants also support beneficial insects and provide late-season forage. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting when plants reach 8-10 inches tall. Use a cut-and-come-again method, harvesting outer leaves and stems first, allowing the center to continue growing. For maximum tenderness, harvest in the morning after cooler nights. Catalogna can be harvested continuously over 4-8 weeks or cut entirely at soil level for regeneration. Spring and fall plantings produce the most tender, least bitter leaves. In summer heat, leaves become more bitter.

Fun Facts

🌱 Chicory Catalogna is known as 'Puntarelle' in Italy when harvested at a specific stage where the stems curl into decorative loops; these are traditionally served as a spring delicacy with anchovy dressing.
🌱 The entire chicory plant is edible—leaves for salads, stems for cooking, and roots can be roasted to make a caffeine-free coffee substitute that has been popular in Europe for centuries.
🌱 Chicory is extremely cold-hardy and actually improves in flavor after a light frost, as the plant converts starches to sugars for frost protection, making fall harvests particularly sweet and tender.

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