Chicory cultivation: growing organic chicory in your vegetable garden

Growing chicory is very easy and the plants don’t really require much care. You should plan to grow chicory in cold weather as it is a cool season crop. Chicory is an excellent winter vegetable and can be grown just about anywhere.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is available worldwide. It can be found growing wild in many parts of the United States (although it is not native to the United States).

Chicory is also known by other names such as wild endive, wild bachelor buttons, succory, ragged sailors, handibeh, seaweed, coffee beans, blue grass, berth, blue dandelion, blue daisy and blue sailors.

Chicory is grown mainly for its leaves. And the leaves are usually eaten raw, like lettuce leaves. Some people also prefer tender roots and shoots.

Root chicory is grown in Europe as a coffee substitute. The roots are eaten in various ways, such as fried, chopped, baked, and also used as a supplement (especially in the Mediterranean region).

However, growing chicory in your garden will give you plenty of options in the kitchen. Growing chicory is very easy and the plants will grow well in almost any type of soil.

How to start growing chicory

As we mentioned above, “growing chicory is very easy”. You don’t have to think much about growing this vegetable. Here we will talk in detail about the stages of planting, caring for and harvesting chicory.

Choose a variety of chicory

There are many varieties of chicory. You actually have 2 types of chicory to choose from, namely Whitloof and Radicchio. And there are many varieties to choose from within each type.

The Whitloof type is grown for a large root which is used to make a coffee supplement. Some common varieties of this type are:

The Radicchio cultivar produces densely formed buds with burgundy or dark purple leaves. Some common varieties of this type are:

  • Bird of Fire
  • Julian
  • Red of Treviso and
  • red verona

You can choose any variety depending on availability in your area. You can consult some existing home gardeners in your area for more specific recommendations.

Buy seeds / seedlings

You can grow chicory from seeds and seedlings. Find seedlings at your nearest nursery. And the seeds should be readily available in your area.

The best time to grow chicory

Chicory is a cool season crop. So, you should plan to grow chicory during the winter season or during the colder months.

If you live in northern areas with extreme cold, you should plan to plant chicory 3 to 4 weeks before the danger of frost has passed.

Soil preparation

Chicory is very hardy and can be grown in almost any type of soil. But for the best plant growth, the soil must receive sunlight.

After choosing a site, the ground must be prepared. To grow chicory, all you need to do is cultivate the soil and add organic matter to it.

planting

Chicory can be grown from seeds or seedlings. If you want to grow from seed, the seeds should be grown indoors 5-6 weeks before the seedlings are moved outdoors.

Sowing seeds in rows will be fine, and the rows should be 2 to 3 feet apart. Space the seeds about 6 to 10 inches apart and you can thin them out later. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and water immediately after sowing the seeds.

If transplanting, plant them in rows 10 to 12 inches apart. Plant seedlings in the afternoon and water immediately after planting.

chicory care

Chicory plants generally require less care and maintenance. Although extra care will ensure better plant growth. Here we will go into more detail about the usual process of growing chicory.

Fertilizer: Chicory plants do not require additional fertilizer if you have already prepared the soil with organic matter. Although applying liquid fertilizer once every two weeks is fine.

Watering:

Chicory grows well if the soil is kept constantly moist. Water your plants more often.

Mulching: When growing chicory, mulching is necessary. Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil and also helps prevent the spread of weeds in the garden.

Cannabis control:

Weeds consume most of the nutrients in the soil and ultimately the plants suffer. Therefore, weed control is very important. You can easily tackle weeds by hand or with a hoe.

Dilution: If you are growing chicory from seed, thinning is necessary. Chicory does not grow well if overcrowded. So cut the plants about 10-12 inches apart when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves.

Pests and diseases

Pests and diseases of chicory are generally fewer. Slugs and snails are common pests of chicory. Beer traps, sawdust, eggshell barriers, copper tape, and biological control are good ways to control slugs and snails.

Leaf rot is also common with chicory. Chicory leaves rot in humid conditions or when the plants are grown under cover. Removing damaged leaves and improving the ventilation system under the canopy will help prevent this problem.

Harvest

For salads, harvest the endives when the crowns are full and well coloured. Generally, the darker the color, the more bitter the taste.

But if you plant chicory only on the roots, the harvest will be ready in about 120 days.

The leaves are usually ready to harvest 60 to 70 days after planting.

These are common ways to grow chicory organically in the vegetable garden. Hope you enjoyed this guide! Happy gardening 🙂

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