November 22, 2024, 2:15 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
When most vegetables have long since cleared the field in the fall, the sugar loaf is still standing there unphased. The pointed heads of lettuce are harvested well into December and can then be stored for several weeks. You can find out how to grow this uncomplicated fall and winter lettuce here.
Even if the name suggests it, the sugar loaf (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum f. cylindricum) does not taste particularly sweet. The name is derived solely from the pointed shape of the lettuce heads. Sugar loaf, which is also known as sugar loaf lettuce or chicory lettuce, is, like radicchio and chicory, a cultivated form of common chicory. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to Italy, Austria, southern France, and Ticino.
Overview
Sowing and planting sugar loaf
Sugar loaf is either sown directly into the bed from mid-June to the end of July or grown in advance. The sowing depth is about one centimeter. At temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees, germination usually takes place within eight days. If possible, pre-grown plants should be moved outdoors at the cotyledon stage so that the fast-growing taproots are not damaged during the move. It is also important to ensure that the young plants are only placed as deep in the soil as they were previously in the growing container. A distance of 30 centimetres within a row and 40 centimetres between rows is ideal.
Appearance and growth
The sugar loaf first forms a rosette of leaves and then an elongated, closed, firm head with curled light green to light yellow leaves. Visually, it is reminiscent of romaine lettuce. If the plant is not harvested in the fall or winter, it produces its blue flowers in the second year, which look similar to those of the common chicory.
Location and soil
Sugar loaf prefers to grow in a sheltered, sunny spot but can also grow in partial shade. It prefers a humus-rich, loose, and deep soil that can retain moisture but is not prone to waterlogging.
Tomatoes, carrots, fennel, beans, and kale make good bed neighbors. Potatoes are bad bed neighbors. To make it more difficult for diseases and pests, neither sugar loaf nor other composite plants such as lettuce, artichokes, or salsify should be grown in the same area for three to four years after growing it.
Variety tips
The variety “Auslese” can withstand frosts down to minus four degrees and can be stored until January. “Nettuno TT” produces crunchy, very aromatic, and slightly sweet heads but can only tolerate very light frosts.
Caring for sugar loaf
Sugar loaf is a frugal leafy vegetable that does not require much care.
Watering
Sugar loaf requires regular watering, especially in dry conditions, to keep the soil consistently moist. It is better to water less frequently and thoroughly than frequently and only superficially.
Fertilization
As a medium feeder, the plant does well with a little compost as fertilizer. However, you should not fertilize too much, as this increases the susceptibility to diseases.
Pruning
Sugar loaf does not need to be pruned.
Propagation
Lettuce can be propagated by sowing, as described above. If you want to produce your own seeds, you will need to overwinter the plant because it only produces flowers in the second year.
Overwintering
Depending on the variety, sugar loaf lettuce can withstand temperatures down to minus seven degrees. Outdoors in mild regions, the plant can be overwintered well protected by a fleece. Overwintering is also possible when grown in a greenhouse.
Toxicity
Sugar loaf is not poisonous.
Alternatives
Just like sugar loaf, chicory and radicchio are also chicory lettuces. They are also harvested late in the year and contain healthy bitter substances.
Bee friendliness
The flowers provide food for insects such as bees, bumblebees, and hoverflies.
Diseases and pests
The most common disease that sugar loaf has to contend with is gray mold. This weak parasite mainly attacks plants that have been damaged by heavy rain or hail. Infested plants or plant parts should be disposed of immediately in the household waste.
The most common pests are aphids. However, they have plenty of predators, such as ladybugs and their larvae, lacewings and their larvae, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, spiders, and birds. A garden rich in species and structure offers them the best living conditions. For those who prefer a DIY approach, using garlic water or a water-milk mixture can effectively combat aphids.
Harvesting and storage
Depending on the variety, sugar loaf is ready to harvest after around twelve weeks. It is best to harvest as required, as long as the weather cooperates. If there is a threat of heavy frosts or if there is a constant alternation between freezing and thawing, it should be harvested completely. However, since this lettuce stores well, managing a large harvest is not problematic. If you only harvest as needed, you can cut the lettuce off just above the ground with a sharp knife. If it is to be stored, it should be dug up together with at least a fist-sized part of the root ball. Wrapped in newspaper, it will keep for several weeks if stored in a cool, dark place.
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Use in the kitchen
Since the outer leaves of sugar loaf lettuce are quite bitter, typically only the inner, lighter-colored leaves are consumed. However, these also have a bitter taste. To soften this, the leaves can be soaked in water for a moment. However, valuable ingredients are lost in the process. Sugar loaf is usually cut into strips and then added to salads or processed. It tastes good raw, steamed, fried, or baked with cheese.