Pan di Zucchero

Season Overview

Description

Medium to late ripening Italian variety with elongated, well-sealed, firm, large heads, voluminous with a high weight, up to 40 cm high. Also known as meat cabbage. Easy to grow, very good taste, outdoors and in the greenhouse. Leaf chicory can be dug up with root ball before frost sets in and stored in a cool place for one to two months. Not suitable for forcing.

Growing tips

A sheltered, sunny location with deep (due to taproot), humus-rich soil is preferred, but generally undemanding. Compost rather than manure should be worked into the soil. Does not need to be pre-grown. Germination after approx. 8 days at 20-25°C. Sowing soil is recommended. Separate after 4 weeks at the latest. Do not leave too much space (approx. 25 cm) between plants, as the heads may then not become as firm. Diluted nettle manure is very suitable as an intermediate fertilizer. Can tolerate frost down to approx. -7°C, making the taste milder. Harvest either very soon, when the leaves are not yet hard, or when ripe from October to December. Sugar loaf can then be stored well (dry and cool for a few weeks). Protect from the cold to prevent sprouting. Remove weeds regularly. Harvest possible until November. Can be overwintered in a greenhouse or under foil, but not outdoors. For a longer storage period, harvest the root as well. Can be planted well after spinach or peas. Tomatoes, carrots, beans, fennel, kohlrabi and lettuce are recommended as mixed crops. Parsley should be cultivated further.

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Seeding distance

25 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm