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Interest in the production of the specialty vegetable radicchio ( Cichorium intybus L. var. silvestre Bisch.) has increased among vegetable growers in the northeastern United States due to the popularity and consumption of premixed prepared salads. Growing environments with moderate daytime temperature and high light level have been associ- ated with dense, deep red heads. Production problems include the low percentage of plants producing marketable heads and labor costs associated with hand-weeding. Traditional bareground culture was compared with several colored mulches (white, silver, red, black, and blue) for their effects on head formation, size, yield, and color of two Italian cultivars. Field studies were conducted in Freeville (upstate), N.Y., in 1997 and 1998. The percentage of heads harvested ranged from 32% to 82% over the 2 years of experiments and was lowest in black and red plastic mulch treatments. Yields were significantly higher, heads larger, and harvest earlier for plants grown over silver and white mulch compared to the control and other mulch treatments in 1998. In addition, average head weight was greater in all mulch treatments except blue when compared with the control. Cultivar differences were measured for the number and weight of heads, the percent bolting and marketable heads, and head color in 1998. Air and soil temperatures varied significantly around these mulches; however, these differences in microclimate had no effect on head color quality. Despite relatively moderate temperatures in upstate New York, radicchio responded positively to mulches that lowered average soil temperatures (white and silver) compared with the other treatments. Growers in the Northeast are continuously searching for new or niche crops to diversify production. Radicchio is one such specialty crop, with expanding markets due to its use in "mesclun" salad mixes. The leaves have a deep red color with white veins and a distinc- tive bitter flavor. Challenges to expanding production observed in New York (J. Dygert, personal communication) and in northern Eu- rope (Grevsen, 1992) have included the lack of uniformity of head quality and size, the timing of head development, and the low percentage of plants producing marketable heads. Mini- mum marketable size for radicchio ranges from 0.18 kg per head (Carrasco et al., 1998) to 0.23-0.34 kg per head, to allow 12 to 15 heads per 3.9-kg box (Champlain Valley Spe- cialties, N.Y.). Heads must also have uniform dark red appearance and bright white veins. In general, radicchio varieties have shown a high degree of variability for head formation. About 50% of plants produced heads in Italian trials (Gianquinto and Pimpini, 1989), 4% to 70% of plants in New England trials (Hill, 1987), and 30% to 60% of plants in New York production fields and trials (unpublished data). Growers in New York desire 80% of plants headed and harvested with two passes through the field.

Mulch Color Affects Radicchio Quality and Yield