A. Rangarajan and B.A. Ingall
Department of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Cornell University
134 Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14853

 Keywords: Cichorium intybus, leafy greens, plasticulture, specialty, vegetable, salad

Abstract: Interest in the production of the specialty vegetable, radicchio (Cichorium intybus), has increased among vegetable growers in the northeastern U.S, due to the popularity and consumption of pre-mixed and ‘mesclun’ salads. Radicchio is traditionally produced using bare-ground culture.  A major production cost has been labor associated with hand weeding.  As an alternative, we examined a plastic mulch-based system for effects on head yield and quality.  Environments with moderate daytime temperatures and high light levels have been associated with dense, deep red heads.  Several colored mulches (white, silver, red, black, clear, blue) were compared to a bareground control for effects on head formation, size, yield and color in two Italian varieties.  In general, mulches increased the average weight of heads compared to the control.  The percent of heads harvested ranged from 50 to 82 and was lowest in black, clear, and blue plastic mulch treatments.  Heads were smaller when grown with blue or no mulch. Yields were significantly higher, heads larger and harvest earlier for plants grown over silver and white mulch compared to the bareground control. Despite relatively moderate temperatures in upstate New York, radicchio responded positively to use of these mulches that lowered average soil temperatures compared to the other treatments.  Effects of modified light quality over the mulch remains difficult to separate from temperature changes.  Variety was the most significant factor determining head color and mulch treatment did not affect this trait.

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