Grumolo Bionda

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Sweetly nutty and gently bitter, Grumolo Bionda forms tender, golden-blond heads with a crisp, snappy bite and a fine, ruffled texture that feels luminous in the garden.

At maturity, the pale leaves gather into an elegant rosette, offering a delicate crunch that shines in fresh salads and brightens roasted vegetable platters, as well as creamy sauces and quick pickling for a tangy accent. Grow it for a refined, garden-to-table radicchio experience—beautiful, flavorful, and wonderfully satisfying to cultivate.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Grumolo Bionda

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Grumolo Bionda’s pale leaves deliver a softer bitterness with a clean nutty note, so it doesn’t need heavy-handed cooking to taste “radicchio.” Use it raw for crunch, or roast/sear just until edges turn glossy—long heat will flatten its ruffled texture and mute the sweet-bitter contrast.

Best Uses

shaved or quartered raw salads where it stays pleasantly crisp
quick pickling for a tangy, lightly bitter bite
hot searing/roasting to sweeten the edges without turning leathery
folding into creamy sauces for a bitter-sweet balance

Flavor Profile

sweetly nutty gently bitter finish crisp, snappy crunch fine ruffled, delicate texture

Kitchen Pairings

lemon balsamic vinegar Parmigiano-Reggiano olive oil walnuts duck or pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Cichorium intybus (Grumolo Bionda) and how do I manage it?

Leafy Cichorium (chicory/cichorium types) is prone to slugs/snails and foliar fungal spotting when leaves stay wet. Check undersides of leaves at dusk and remove hiding spots; use copper barriers or hand-collect early in the day. Water at the soil line to keep foliage dry, space plants for airflow, and remove heavily spotted leaves promptly to slow spread.

How often should I water Cichorium intybus during the main growing phase?

During active growth (from emergence through mid-season), keep the top 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. In full sun, this often means watering 1–2 times per week, increasing to more frequent watering during hot, windy spells. If the leaves wilt during the day but recover by evening, adjust toward slightly more regular, lighter watering.

How can I tell when Grumolo Bionda (Cichorium intybus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 60 days when heads/rosettes are firm, well-developed, and the outer leaves are a healthy mature size. Use your fingers to feel for a sturdy center rather than a loose, easily compressible rosette. For best eating quality, harvest in the morning and avoid picking after prolonged heat, which can toughen leaves.