How to Grow Chicory Catalogna Spadona

Chicory Catalogna Spadona

Cichorium intybus var. catalogna

vegetable

Chicory Catalogna Spadona is a leafy Italian chicory variety prized for its tender, elongated green leaves and distinctive sabre-like shape. This heirloom cultivar produces attractive rosettes of deeply lobed foliage that can be harvested repeatedly or cut as whole heads. It offers a pleasant bitter flavor that mellows when cooked and is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun to partial shade; 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply 1-2 times per week depending on rainfall and temperature. Reduce watering slightly in cool seasons to prevent rot.

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Spacing: 8-12 inches

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Days to maturity: 50-70

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Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost Well-rotted manure Peat moss or coconut coir

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-8; can tolerate cooler climates and benefits from fall planting in warmer zones

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

Growth Stages

Seedling

7-14 days

Tiny cotyledons emerge with narrow true leaves following. Plants develop their first lobed foliage features.

Keep soil moist and provide bright indirect light. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once first true leaves appear.

Vegetative Growth

20-40 days

Dense rosette of deeply cut, sabre-like green leaves develops. Foliage becomes more pronounced with characteristic lobing.

Maintain consistent moisture and feed with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Remove any flower buds to encourage leaf production.

Mature Rosette

10-20 days

Full-sized rosettes with numerous elongated, deeply lobed leaves reaching 6-12 inches in length. Plants are at peak eating quality.

Begin harvesting outer leaves regularly to encourage continued production. Maintain even moisture and light feeding schedule.

Bolting

Variable depending on conditions

If temperatures rise or day length extends, plants send up central flower stalks with blue or purple flowers.

Harvest before bolting for best texture and flavor. In fall plantings, cool weather may prevent bolting entirely.

Harvest/Post-Harvest

Throughout mature stage

Ready for cutting and consumption at full rosette stage. Can be harvested as whole heads or continuously picked for leaves.

Cut in early morning for best crispness. Store in refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks in humid conditions.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Lettuce Spinach Radish Carrot Onion Garlic Marigold

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Dill

Common Pests

Use floating row covers when young, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap, plant strongly-scented herbs nearby as deterrents
Spray with strong water stream, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
and
Hand-pick in early morning or evening, use copper tape barriers, apply diatomaceous earth around plants
Remove affected leaves immediately, use floating row covers, apply neem oil spray

Uses

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Cooked Greens & Sautéed Dishes

Culinary

Traditionally cooked with garlic and olive oil, the bitter flavor softens when heat-treated, creating a tender, savory side dish common in Italian cuisine. Can be braised, sautéed, or added to soups and pasta dishes. [source]

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Raw Salads & Bitter Greens

Culinary

Tender young leaves can be used raw in salads where they provide an assertive, complex bitter flavor that balances rich dressings and creamy cheeses. [source]

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Digestive & Liver Support

Medicinal

Chicory has been traditionally used to support digestive health and liver function due to its inulin content and bitter compounds that stimulate gastric secretions. [source]

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Caffeine-Free Coffee Substitute

Household

Roasted chicory root has historically been used as a coffee additive or alternative, particularly popular in Mediterranean and French traditions. [source]

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Pollinator Support

Wildlife

If allowed to flower, chicory produces attractive blue flowers that attract and feed bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. [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 outer leaves once plants reach 6+ inches tall by cutting 1-2 inches above soil level; new leaves will continue to grow. For whole-head harvest, cut at soil level when rosette is 10-12 inches across. Harvest in cool morning hours for maximum crispness and reduced bitterness. Spring plantings can be harvested before summer bolting; fall plantings often produce through winter in mild climates.

Fun Facts

🌱 Chicory Catalogna Spadona is an heirloom variety that has been cultivated in southern Italy for centuries, with particular popularity in Calabria and Sicily.
🌱 The name 'Spadona' derives from the Italian word 'spada' (sword), referring to the distinctive sabre or sword-like shape of its elongated leaves.
🌱 Chicory root is historically significant—it was widely used as a coffee substitute during wartime rationing and remains popular in New Orleans chicory coffee blends.

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