How to Grow Radicchio Red Chard

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Radicchio Red Chard

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens × Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

vegetable

Radicchio Red Chard is a leafy green vegetable combining the tender, mild leaves of chard with the slight bitterness and deep red coloring characteristic of radicchio. It produces large, crinkled leaves with prominent red or burgundy veins and stems that add visual appeal and nutritional value to gardens and plates. This hybrid variety offers excellent cold tolerance and a longer growing season than traditional radicchio while maintaining the nutritional benefits of both parent plants.

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Example Radicchio Red Chard timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Radicchio Red Chard
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Radicchio Red Chard
Around Jun 6

≈ 50 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Radicchio Red Chard dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun to partial shade, 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily; afternoon shade helpful in hot climates

💧

Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering slightly in cool weather. Drip irrigation preferred to minimize leaf diseases.

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Spacing: 6 inches

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Days to maturity: 50-70 days for baby leaves, 70-90 days for full-size plants

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Planting depth: 0.5 inches for seeds; transplants should be set at soil level

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 organic fertilizer (10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; excellent cold hardiness makes it ideal for cool-season gardening

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

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Growth Stages

Germination

7-14 days

Seeds sprout with two rounded cotyledons (seed leaves) emerging from soil

Keep soil evenly moist at 65-75°F. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once true leaves appear. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth.

Seedling/Early Vegetative

2-3 weeks

First true leaves appear with characteristic red veining; plants develop 2-4 true leaves

Maintain consistent moisture and moderate nutrients. Begin diluted feeding with balanced fertilizer if grown indoors. Harden off transplants gradually before planting outdoors.

Vegetative/Leaf Development

3-5 weeks

Plant develops multiple large leaves with increasing red pigmentation in stems and veins; foliage becomes prominent

Continue consistent watering and weekly feeding with balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Harvest outer leaves early for tenderness (baby leaf stage at 30-40 days). Mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature.

Full Maturity

Until bolting or season end (3-6 weeks)

Plant reaches full size with 10-15 large leaves, deep red coloring fully developed, stems thick and substantial

Maintain regular watering as plants require consistent moisture at this stage. Continue harvesting outer leaves to encourage continued growth. Monitor for bolting in warm weather.

Bolting/End of Season

1-2 weeks before plant becomes inedible

Central leaves begin to tighten and elongate; flowering stem emerges from center

Harvest remaining leaves immediately. Once bolting begins, quality declines. Pull plant and amend soil for next crop. In cool climates, may have extended harvest before bolting.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beets Carrots Garlic Onions Kohlrabi Nasturtium Lettuce Spinach Chard (other varieties)

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Beans Pole beans Tomatoes (same area for consecutive seasons)

Common Pests

Remove affected leaves promptly; use reflective mulches; apply neem oil or spinosad; beneficial insects like parasitic wasps help control populations
and
Hand-pick in early morning/evening; use slug traps or beer baits; copper tape barriers; encourage ground beetles and other predators
Row covers on young plants; neem oil spray; diatomaceous earth; kaolin clay spray; remove cruciferous weeds nearby
Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings; reflective mulch
Increase humidity; water spray to clean leaves; neem oil or sulfur dust; remove heavily infested leaves
Improve air circulation; water at base only; remove affected leaves; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide if severe

Uses

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Salad Greens & Raw Applications

Culinary

Tender baby leaves provide a mild, slightly bitter flavor excellent in mixed salads, offering visual appeal with deep red veining. Full-sized mature leaves add nutritional density and sophisticated flavor to gourmet salad mixes and vegetable arrangements. [source]

🍳

Cooked Greens & Hot Dishes

Culinary

Mature leaves can be sautéed, steamed, or braised like chard, becoming tender and mild with cooking. Use in soups, grain bowls, pasta dishes, or as a wilted side vegetable alongside protein. [source]

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Nutritional & Mineral Content

Medicinal

High in vitamins K, A, and C, plus minerals including magnesium, potassium, and iron. Contains betalains and other antioxidants with potential anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits, similar to both parent vegetables. [source]

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Juice & Smoothie Ingredient

Culinary

Young, tender leaves blend smoothly into green juices and smoothies, providing earthy, slightly bitter notes and substantial nutritional boost without overwhelming flavor in mixed-vegetable preparations. [source]

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Natural Food Coloring

Household

The red and purple pigments in stems and veins (betalains and anthocyanins) can be extracted for natural food coloring in cooking and baking applications. [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 baby leaves 30-40 days after planting for tender, mild greens. Cut outer leaves from base when 6-8 inches long, allowing inner leaves to continue growing. For full-size leaves, wait 70-90 days. Harvest in morning after dew dries for best quality and crispness. Continue harvesting outer leaves to encourage continued productivity and delay bolting. Plants produce longest in cool weather; stop harvesting once bolting begins. Leaves taste better when picked before weather becomes very hot.

Fun Facts

🌱 Radicchio Red Chard combines traits from two different Beta vulgaris subspecies—the leaf-producing chard (cicla) and the root-producing radicchio (vulgaris)—making it a modern vegetable hybrid that wasn't common 30 years ago
🌱 The deep red pigmentation intensifies in cool weather and after frost, making fall plantings especially vibrant and flavorful due to increased anthocyanin and betalain production as a natural cold-stress response
🌱 Unlike traditional radicchio which forms tight heads, Radicchio Red Chard maintains an open leaf structure like chard, making it much easier and faster to harvest while allowing continuous pick-and-come-again harvesting

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Bolt Full Sun Hybrid Mulch Partial Shade Transplant True Leaves

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