11 Companion Crops to Develop with Radicchio

11 Companion Crops to Develop with Radicchio

September 15, 2023 Companion Planting Leave a comment

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The chicory plant family is filled with crispy greens that add a delicious chunk to hot and cold dishes. Radicchio is a cabbage-like plant with engaging reddish-purple and white coloring that may stand out in your plate. Many companion vegetation can develop with radicchio in the event you want to add this to your yard.

This cool-season crop will get along with many alternative vegetation that need associated conditions. If given good conditions, it may develop to be pretty big, and appropriately spacing it with completely different vegetation can seem like a chore.

I’ll current you which vegetation work successfully with radicchio and help you establish recommendations on methods to home them in your yard.

About Companion Planting

Close-up of a growing Radicchio next to Calendula in the garden. Radicchio is a leafy vegetable with beautiful waxy leaves. They are green in color with maroon hues and white veins. The leaves are wide, oval, smooth, with slightly wavy edges that form a rosette. Calendula is a flowering plant with bright and cheerful orange petals. Its leaves are green and lanceolate, forming a dense rosette at the base of the plant. The leaves are slightly hairy and have a soft texture.Close-up of a growing Radicchio next to Calendula in the garden. Radicchio is a leafy vegetable with beautiful waxy leaves. They are green in color with maroon hues and white veins. The leaves are wide, oval, smooth, with slightly wavy edges that form a rosette. Calendula is a flowering plant with bright and cheerful orange petals. Its leaves are green and lanceolate, forming a dense rosette at the base of the plant. The leaves are slightly hairy and have a soft texture.
This historic observe entails pairing vegetation to make gardening easier, cut back pests, and steadiness nutrient desires.

Companion planting is definitely making vegetation work to be able to make your life easier—if you want to check out it that method! You probably can pair certain vegetation collectively to help cut back pest populations, entice pollinators, and provide shade.

With cautious planning, you can choose companions that revenue each other nutrient-wise. Pairing nitrogen-hungry vegetation with others that don’t need as rather a lot nitrogen will present you methods to steadiness out how rather a lot fertilizer you need. Crops with shallow roots develop successfully with deep-rooted vegetation on account of they absorb water and nutritional vitamins at fully completely different ranges with out competing.

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There are scientific benefits to planting certain crops with one another.

Anyone can revenue from companion planting, nevertheless these with restricted home will uncover basically probably the most use for it. You probably can flip your tomato planter proper right into a planter for tomatoes, herbs, and flowers, tripling your plant parts whereas receiving greater harvests.

Radicchio as a Companion Plant

Radicchio may seem like a difficult plant to indicate proper right into a companion because it may develop big within the correct conditions. Sooner than you can select its neighbors, it’s a must to understand the best way it behaves throughout the yard.

Since radicchio can develop as a lot as 12 inches tall and in depth, it makes a wonderful ground cowl for various vegetation. It can probably suppress weeds and protect roots, which might help your completely different vegetation thrive. This chicory performs most interesting in cool seasons with a great deal of moisture.

Radicchio has a shallow root system, so loads of the precise property it takes up is above ground, which means you possibly can plant deep-rooted vegetation like carrots and beets shut by and by no means have to worry about taproots turning into misshapen.

Radicchio can entice a lot of pests that may assault its neighbors, along with aphids, flea beetles, thrips, and cabbage loopers. You may also see ants spherical, nevertheless they obtained’t eat your radicchio; they’re merely farming aphids for his or her honeydew, which suggests you’ll have an excellent larger aphid disadvantage than sooner than.

One different disadvantage you would have is defending thirsty radicchio snug. They like an entire lot of water, typically 1-2 inches per week, and doubtless further once you develop it in hotter conditions than it prefers to develop in, like to start with of summer time season. In case you occur to pair it with completely different thirsty vegetation, you’ll should water your yard further usually than regular.

Companion Crops for Radicchio

Let’s ponder some companions that develop successfully subsequent to this distinctive chicory!

Beets

Close-up of beets growing in rows in the garden. Beetroot is a biennial plant known for its edible roots, leaves, and fruits. The leaves are large, glossy, dark green in color and grow from a central stem with distinct veins. The stems are purple. The root of the beetroot is the most well-known part, having a round or cylindrical shape and covered with a thin gray-brown skin.Close-up of beets growing in rows in the garden. Beetroot is a biennial plant known for its edible roots, leaves, and fruits. The leaves are large, glossy, dark green in color and grow from a central stem with distinct veins. The stems are purple. The root of the beetroot is the most well-known part, having a round or cylindrical shape and covered with a thin gray-brown skin.
These root crops revenue chicories by enhancing soil building and nutrient absorption.

Beets have fairly a bit to present to their neighbors. For starters, their thick roots will help loosen the soil to help radicchio develop greater. Their roots absorb nutritional vitamins at fully completely different ranges and obtained’t hinder each other’s progress.

In case you occur to don’t have to eat beet greens, decrease them and return them to the soil. They’re filled with magnesium, which helps vegetation develop larger. Crops that don’t acquire adequate magnesium can develop to be stunted, so be completely satisfied to depart these leaves behind.

Carrots

Close-up of a gardener harvesting carrots in the garden. With one hand he pulls ripe carrots out of the ground, and in the other hand he holds a bunch of freshly picked carrots. The carrot is a biennial plant valued for its edible roots, leaves, and fruits. Carrot leaves are pinnate and delicate, growing like a fern from a central stem. The root is large, elongated, bright orange.Close-up of a gardener harvesting carrots in the garden. With one hand he pulls ripe carrots out of the ground, and in the other hand he holds a bunch of freshly picked carrots. The carrot is a biennial plant valued for its edible roots, leaves, and fruits. Carrot leaves are pinnate and delicate, growing like a fern from a central stem. The root is large, elongated, bright orange.
Deep-rooted carrots improve soil and help chicory progress with out competing for belongings in small areas.

Carrots are good at loosening the soil, notably once you develop big varieties that attain deep throughout the soil. In case you occur to’re rising radicchio in a yard mattress with less-than-ideal soil, companion planting carrots will help make it easier for the roots to develop and may even help draw nutritional vitamins into the upper layers of the soil.

Given that roots develop at fully completely different depths, they don’t compete for nutritional vitamins. Carrots have a deep taproot with feeders that creep beneath the extent of the shallow radicchio roots. That’s good in the event you should squeeze these vegetation proper right into a small home.

Cauliflower

Close-up of cauliflower in the garden. Cauliflower is a biennial plant with an edible flower head. Cauliflower leaves are large, broad, bluish green, and form a rosette around the base of the flower head. The flower head, also called the curd, is the edible part of the plant and consists of tightly packed, undeveloped flower buds.Close-up of cauliflower in the garden. Cauliflower is a biennial plant with an edible flower head. Cauliflower leaves are large, broad, bluish green, and form a rosette around the base of the flower head. The flower head, also called the curd, is the edible part of the plant and consists of tightly packed, undeveloped flower buds.
Brassicas are acceptable companions on account of they’ve associated rising desires.

Cauliflower doesn’t basically revenue radicchio, nevertheless it’s a wonderful companion on account of it has associated rising requirements and obtained’t damage the plant. They’re every cool-season crops that need a great deal of water and sunshine. You’ll probably wish to prolong how rather a lot water you give them since they’re every thirsty vegetation.

Every vegetation are susceptible to cabbage loopers, flea beetles, aphids, and thrips, so that you just’ll wish to take a look at for these pests. Ponder rising sage or one different herb that helps to discourage these pests shut by.

Cucumbers

Close-up of ripening cucumbers in the garden. Cucumbers are annual creeping vines known for their elongated, cylindrical fruits. The leaves of cucumbers are large, green, have a rough texture. They are palmately lobed, with 5-7 pointed lobes radiating from a central point. Cucumber fruits are elongated and cylindrical, with a green peel covered with small bumps.Close-up of ripening cucumbers in the garden. Cucumbers are annual creeping vines known for their elongated, cylindrical fruits. The leaves of cucumbers are large, green, have a rough texture. They are palmately lobed, with 5-7 pointed lobes radiating from a central point. Cucumber fruits are elongated and cylindrical, with a green peel covered with small bumps.
The vines and leaves of cucumbers present shade for chicories in spring, whereas the low-growing greens protect cucumber roots.

Cucumbers can help you make your spring chicory crop final extra or help the seedlings you plant in late summer time season hold cool. Trellis the cucumbers in order that they don’t suffocate the radicchio nevertheless current a great deal of shade to protect it from extreme temperatures.

Mature radicchio vegetation can help protect cucumber roots and act as a dwelling cowl crop to retain moisture throughout the soil, which is good since they every like an entire lot of water. The identical watering desires for every vegetation moreover make them good neighbors.

Dill

Close-up of a growing dill in the garden. Dill is an annual plant known for its delicate and feathery leaves. Dill leaves are soft, thin and fern-like, giving the plant a graceful and airy appearance. The leaves are bright green in color and grow on long thin stems.Close-up of a growing dill in the garden. Dill is an annual plant known for its delicate and feathery leaves. Dill leaves are soft, thin and fern-like, giving the plant a graceful and airy appearance. The leaves are bright green in color and grow on long thin stems.
Planting dill near radicchio attracts useful bugs that administration aphids.

If aphids are a difficulty, plant some dill. Ladybugs and lacewings love dill and might flock to it, and they also’ll stick spherical your yard for an aphid buffet. Dill may entice many pollinators and completely different useful bugs that may revenue your yard.

Dill will work most interesting as a container plant near your crop as a result of it likes drier conditions. You might as properly plant it on the sting of the mattress, the place the soil will drain shortly.

Lettuce

Close-up of a garden bed with growing lettuce plants with straw mulched soil. Lettuce is a popular annual leafy vegetable known for its tender and edible leaves. Lettuce leaves are large, wide, bright green. They have a waxy and slightly wrinkled texture. The leaves grow in a rosette from a central stem.Close-up of a garden bed with growing lettuce plants with straw mulched soil. Lettuce is a popular annual leafy vegetable known for its tender and edible leaves. Lettuce leaves are large, wide, bright green. They have a waxy and slightly wrinkled texture. The leaves grow in a rosette from a central stem.
These greens coexist with radicchio, sharing water and daylight preferences.

Lettuce is one different plant that doesn’t revenue or damage chicories—it merely exists shut by. They every like ample water and a great deal of springtime daylight nevertheless will start to bolt when the temperatures get too scorching.

They do share pest points, though, like aphids and thrips. Protect neem oil out there to battle them, or wash the aphids off with water.

Mustard Greens

Close-up of a garden bed with growing Mustard greens. Mustard greens are leafy vegetables with large, broad leaves with frilly edges. They are bright green in color, form large rosettes.Close-up of a garden bed with growing Mustard greens. Mustard greens are leafy vegetables with large, broad leaves with frilly edges. They are bright green in color, form large rosettes.
These spicy greens thrive alongside chicories attributable to their alternative for moist conditions.

Mustard greens are a improbable radicchio companion on account of they like moist conditions. They generally solely develop just some inches tall and in depth, making it easy to squeeze them into open areas between the heads.

Mustard is throughout the Brassica family and has numerous the same pests I mentioned with cauliflower, like cabbage loopers and thrips, which may also go after your chicory crop.

Radish

Close-up of growing radishes in a sunny garden. Radish is an annual root vegetable known for its tangy flavor and fast growth. Radish leaves are bright green, relatively large, and grow in a rosette form from the base of the plant. They are pale green, oval in shape, with uneven, slightly jagged edges. The roots are edible, oval and oblong in shape, with a thin pink skin.Close-up of growing radishes in a sunny garden. Radish is an annual root vegetable known for its tangy flavor and fast growth. Radish leaves are bright green, relatively large, and grow in a rosette form from the base of the plant. They are pale green, oval in shape, with uneven, slightly jagged edges. The roots are edible, oval and oblong in shape, with a thin pink skin.
Radishes are acceptable neighbors with associated water and daylight requirements.

Radishes and chicories make a improbable combination on the dinner plate, nevertheless moreover they go successfully collectively throughout the soil. They’ve associated water and daylight desires, and every should be grown in cool local weather, so that you just obtained’t should sweat over their explicit individual care.

You could use radishes as a lure crop for aphids. Plant radishes shut by (nevertheless not correct subsequent to your radicchio – merely inside just some toes) and allow the aphids to feed on the radishes.

As soon as they get too haggard-looking, take away the radishes out of your yard to get the aphids out of there and cut back the inhabitants.

Sage

Top view, close-up of sage plants in the garden. Sage is a perennial herb known for its fragrant and textured leaves. Sage leaves are small, narrow, oval-shaped, with a soft, velvety texture on the surface. They are grayish green in color.Top view, close-up of sage plants in the garden. Sage is a perennial herb known for its fragrant and textured leaves. Sage leaves are small, narrow, oval-shaped, with a soft, velvety texture on the surface. They are grayish green in color.
A drought-tolerant herb, sage deters pests nevertheless requires cautious watering.

This drought-tolerant herb may be troublesome to take care of snug within the similar mattress as a chicory crop on account of chicories need rather a lot water, and sage likes it drier. Nonetheless, it’s a wonderful companion as a consequence of all the pests it deters. Flea beetles, cabbage worms, cabbage moths, and cabbage loopers want to assault radicchio nevertheless will preserve their distance in case you will have sage spherical.

Protect sage in a container near your radicchio so you can administration how rather a lot water it receives. It ought to solely be watered when the best few inches of soil are dry, whereas radicchio desires consistently-moist soil.

Tatsoi

Close-up of a growing Tatsoi, also known as "spoon mustard" or "spinach mustard." It is a leafy Asian green belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Tatsoi leaves are small, rounded, spoon-shaped, glossy, dark green. The leaves grow in compact rosettes close to the ground, forming a dense, low-growing plant.Close-up of a growing Tatsoi, also known as "spoon mustard" or "spinach mustard." It is a leafy Asian green belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Tatsoi leaves are small, rounded, spoon-shaped, glossy, dark green. The leaves grow in compact rosettes close to the ground, forming a dense, low-growing plant.
This Asian inexperienced attracts fewer pests and thrives when grown alongside radicchio with ample water and nitrogen.

Tatsoi is an Asian brassica which may be beloved raw or cooked. Though it attracts slugs, cabbage worms, and flea beetles like completely different brassicas do, they don’t go after this plant as rather a lot as they do the others. These pests moreover like radicchio, nevertheless the pest pressures shouldn’t be as unhealthy as completely different radicchio and brassica combos.

Tatsoi is one different thirsty vegetable that may revenue from sharing an space collectively together with your radicchio. Current every vegetation with a great deal of water and nitrogen to take care of everyone snug.

Tomatoes

Close-up of ripe tomatoes in a sunny garden. The plant has compound leaves. consisting of oval bright green leaflets. They grow alternately along the stems and have serrated edges. Tomato fruits are small, oval-shaped, covered with a thin shiny skin of bright red and green colors.Close-up of ripe tomatoes in a sunny garden. The plant has compound leaves. consisting of oval bright green leaflets. They grow alternately along the stems and have serrated edges. Tomato fruits are small, oval-shaped, covered with a thin shiny skin of bright red and green colors.
The leaves of tomatoes can current shade and delay the radicchio harvest if disease-resistant varieties are chosen.

Some gardeners will say that tomatoes and completely different nightshade vegetation are a foul different with radicchio. These people have a level, nevertheless once you’re cautious about spacing, you must use tomato vegetation to increase your spring chicory harvest.

Tomatoes are typically frowned upon as a chicory companion plant as a consequence of their tendency to unfold verticillium wilt. Radicchio could be susceptible to this sickness, so if one plant will get it, you hazard infecting every crops. Nonetheless, deciding on verticillium wilt-resistant tomatoes identical to the Camelia F1, Photo voltaic Gold F1, and Early Cherry will help cut back the sickness, as will pruning the underside branches of the tomato vegetation in order that they don’t contact the radicchio.

The revenue that comes from these companions is the shade tomatoes current radicchio as spring heats up into summer time season. This chicory solely likes full photo voltaic throughout the springtime and might bolt if it would get too scorching. Nevertheless when big tomato vegetation shade it, it’ll hold cool in moist soil and might remaining for for much longer than if it wasn’t protected.

Final Concepts

Radicchio is an beautiful and delicious crop that may add a great deal of shade and style to your meals. Though it may take up some home throughout the yard, there are a variety of decisions you can plant subsequent to it that may get along with it successfully.

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