11 Best Companion Plants for Radicchio: Boost Your Chicory Harvest

Interplanting diverse veggies and herbs fosters healthy soil and richer harvests.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 10, 2025

Interplanting diverse veggies and herbs fosters healthy soil and richer harvests.

11 Best Companion Plants for Radicchio

Growing radicchio successfully is often about what you plant around it as much as how you grow it. Companion planting is a time-tested approach that invites beneficial interactions between radicchio and its garden neighbors. In this comprehensive guide, weâll cover why radicchio benefits from companion planting, recommended partners and why they work, what to avoid, and practical tips for integrating these allies into your garden beds.

Why Companion Plant Radicchio?

Radicchio (Cichorium intybus) is a type of chicory known for its vibrant, burgundy leaves and bitter flavor. It’s a cool-season crop, preferring the same moist, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil as many brassicas and greens. Companion plants can improve soil structure, deter pests, and optimize your use of space, boosting both harvest quality and quantity.

Attract beneficial insects
Distract or repel pests
Enhance soil health and structure
Optimize nutrient take-up
Use garden space more efficiently

Companion Plants for Radicchio

Below are some of the best companion plantsâbenefiting radicchio and your entire cool-season patch.

Beets (Beta vulgaris)

Beets make ideal partners for radicchio. Their deep, thick roots not only help break up and loosen the soil, making it easier for delicate radicchio roots to grow, but also draw up nutrients from lower soil layers. This means less direct competition for minerals. If beet greens aren’t harvested for the kitchen, simply cut and return them to the soil to provide natural magnesiumâa nutrient critical for healthy, robust radicchio growth. Deficiency in magnesium can cause stunted plants, so recycling beet greens is an organic way to sustain your crop.

Carrots (Daucus carota)

Carrots are another root crop that complements radicchio. Their long, slender taproots dive deep, loosening compacted ground and improving drainage while pulling nutrients upward. Carrot roots dig below the shallower radicchio roots, meaning they donât compete directly for the same soil space or nutrients. This is especially useful in small or intensive gardens where every square foot counts.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Cauliflower grows happily alongside radicchio without causing competition. Both are cool-season crops and have similar sunlight and water requirements. However, both are susceptible to pests like aphids, flea beetles, thrips, and cabbage loopers. Pair them with strong-scented herbs close byâsuch as sage, dill, or onionsâto help deter these common insects.

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumbers appreciate moisture as much as radicchio and their vining habit allows vertical or layered planting, maximizing space. Cucumbers can create a living groundcover, reducing evaporation and keeping roots cool while minimizing weed growth. Their quick growth makes them a good seasonal match for radicchio’s spring and fall cycles.

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Dill plays two roles: its feathery foliage attracts predatory insects that devour aphids and thrips, and its strong scent helps mask the radicchio, making it less attractive to pests. Interplanting dill near your radicchio creates a helpful microclimate and encourages a healthier, more balanced ecosystem.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Lettuce and radicchio are leafy companions with similar soil, water, and temperature preferences. Lettuce is a quick-growing, light feeder, often harvested as baby greens, while radicchio is a moderate feeder with a longer season. This combination makes efficient use of nutrients. Lettuce can fill in gaps and provide groundcover, helping to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea)

Mustard greens are not only compatible in terms of growing conditions, but their aromatic leaves help repel certain soil-borne pests and insects. Their fast growth and shallow roots allow for dense planting with radicchio without outcompeting for water or nutrients. As bonus, mustard plants can be turned under as green manure at the end of the season to enrich the bed.

Radishes (Raphanus sativus)

Radishes and radicchio thrive in similar cool conditions and mature quickly, making them a great short-term companion. Plant radishes along the border to mark rows and harvest them after a few weeks, just as radicchio begins heading up. This clears space, loosens soil, and can even draw root maggots away from chicory crops.

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Beans fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through their root nodules, providing a natural fertilizer for moderate feeders like radicchio. Bush beans donât shade radicchio excessively and help build a richer, more friable soil texture. Avoid tall climbing beans unless you plan your layout carefully to prevent shading the chicory.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel shares compatible soil tastes and, when interplanted properly, can attract beneficial predatory insects. Itâs important to note, some gardeners report fennelâs allelopathic properties (chemical exudates that suppress neighbor plants), so plant fennel cautiously and observe for any negative interactions. When in doubt, fence fennel off slightly from the main patch.

Onions (Allium cepa)

Onions protect radicchio from pests with their pungent aroma. Theyâre light feeders and develop bulbously while radicchio heads up above, making for a harmonious and space-efficient pairing. Onions will help deter aphids and other sap-sucking insects keen on chicory relatives.

Bad Companions: What to Avoid Placing Near Radicchio

A few plants can slow down, crowd, or otherwise disrupt radicchioâs growth. Avoid these for best results:

Parsley — Competes for similar soil nutrients and moisture.
Radish (for some, but see above — best as a quick turnover crop).
Celery — Can overrun radicchio and compete aggressively for nutrients.

Mixing too many heavy feeders in one location will stress the bed and reduce overall productivity. Always monitor your patch for signs of crowding or deficiency.

Considerations When Companion Planting Radicchio

Radicchio is a moderate feeder and tolerates a wider range of companions than many finicky crops. However, take note of the following for the healthiest plants:

Sunlight: Radicchio likes full sun to part shade. Avoid full midday sun in very hot climates.
Soil: Loose, deep, humus-rich soils with slight acidity (avoid soggy conditions).
Water: Consistent moisture is crucial. Pair it with similarly thirsty plants.
Pest Management: Many radicchio pests target brassicas and chicories in general. Use aromatic herbs and alliums close by to distract or repel invaders.

Designing a Radicchio Companion Bed

Arrange crops so each occupies a distinct vertical and horizontal space, allowing light and air to circulate. Intermix quick-growing crops, like lettuce and radish, with slower-maturing radicchio and carrots. Surround your bed edges with drought-tolerant herbs (dill, onion) for a living pest barrier. Beans and beets anchor the corners, enriching soil and opening root pathways.

Companion Plant	Benefits to Radicchio	Notes
Beets	Soil loosening, magnesium, non-competing roots	Return beet greens for soil enrichment
Carrots	Improved soil structure, deeper rooting, space efficient	Great for dense or small gardens
Cauliflower	Similar needs, non-competitive	Watch for shared pests
Dill	Attracts beneficial insects, repels pests	Interplant for microclimate benefits
Lettuce	Fast groundcover, moisture retention	Light feeder, doesn’t compete
Mustard Greens	Pest repellent, green manure	Fast grower, enriches soil
Onions	Repels pests, non-competitive	Bulbs develop below, radicchio heads above

Harvest and Maintenance: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When and how do you harvest radicchio?

A: Harvest radicchio when heads are firm and well-sized, usually 60 to 70 days from planting. Use a sharp knife to cut just above the root at soil level. For a possible second growth, leave the root in the ground. Always harvest in the cool of the morning for crisp, sweet heads.

Q: How can you reduce bitterness in harvested radicchio?

A: To mellow bitterness, briefly soak radicchio leaves in cold water. Growing during cool weather and providing steady moisture also result in sweeter, milder heads.

Q: Which garden conditions are best for radicchio and its companions?

A: Choose a location with ample morning sun and some afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. Ensure soil is loose, humus-rich, drains well, and doesnât remain soggy. Interplant with crops that have similar moisture and nutrient needs for optimal success.

Q: Can radicchio be intercropped with root vegetables for mutually beneficial results?

A: Yes, pairing radicchio with root crops like beets and carrots is effective. Their differing root depths provide soil aeration and nutrient circulation, helping all crops develop better without direct competition.

Q: How do you use radicchio in the kitchen?

A: Use raw in salads, or grill/roast to mellow the bite. The flavor pairs well with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Italian cheeses, citrus, and cured meats. Cupped leaves make excellent edible bowls for cheeses, seafood, or fresh salads.

Summary: Building a Successful Radicchio Patch

Whether you are looking to maximize garden productivity, fill space between slow-growing crops, or reduce pest issues naturally, companion planting radicchio with compatible vegetables and herbs is a powerful, traditional strategy. Prioritize crops with different nutrient draws and root depths, keep the soil loose and moist, and pair with aromatic herbs to deter pests. With these simple decisions, youâll set your chicory patch up for vigor, color, and culinary excitement all season long.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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