Chicory

Chicory is a versatile and nutritious plant that can be grown for its leaves, roots, or both. Its bitter leaves add flavor to salads, and its roots can be roasted and ground as a coffee substitute. Learning how to grow chicory allows you to enjoy its culinary benefits and nutritional value in your home garden.

Preparing for Growing:

1. Selecting a planting location: Choose a sunny location for growing chicory. It can tolerate partial shade but prefers full sun.
2. Soil preparation: Prepare well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Chicory prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
3. Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: If growing chicory in containers, choose pots with good drainage and fill them with a quality potting mix.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

1. Seed preparation: Chicory seeds do not require any special treatment before planting.
2. Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use shallow trays or seedling pots filled with seed starting mix.
3. Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Plant chicory seeds shallowly, about ¼ inch deep, and keep the soil consistently moist. Provide ample light and maintain a temperature around 60-70°F for germination, which typically occurs within 7-10 days.
4. Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Once seedlings have developed several sets of true leaves, transplant them into larger containers or directly into the garden bed.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

1. Soil preparation: Prepare the garden bed by removing weeds and loosening the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches. Incorporate compost or aged manure to improve soil fertility.
2. Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Direct sow chicory seeds outdoors in early spring or late summer. Scatter the seeds lightly over the soil surface and cover them with a thin layer of soil.
3. Caring for seeds outdoors: Keep the soil consistently moist until seeds germinate. Thin seedlings to allow proper spacing, typically 6-8 inches apart.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

1. Selecting suitable plants for containers: Choose compact or dwarf varieties of chicory for container growing.
2. Container and soil preparation: Use well-draining containers with adequate drainage holes. Fill them with a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost.
3. Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Plant chicory seeds or seedlings in containers, ensuring they have enough space to grow and receive adequate sunlight.
4. Caring for container plants: Water container-grown chicory regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Provide full sun exposure for optimal growth.

Transplanting to Garden:

1. Soil and planting site preparation: Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Prepare the planting area as described earlier.
2. Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant chicory seedlings into the garden bed after the danger of frost has passed. Space them 6-8 inches apart in rows spaced 12 inches apart.
3. Post-transplant care: Keep the soil evenly moist and mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Plant Care:

1. Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during hot and dry periods. Water deeply to encourage deep root growth.
2. Fertilizing: Chicory generally does not require heavy fertilization. Side-dress plants with compost or a balanced fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.
3. Weeding: Keep the area around chicory plants free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture.
4. Pest and disease management: Chicory is relatively pest and disease resistant but may occasionally suffer from aphids or leaf spot diseases. Monitor plants regularly and use organic pest control methods as needed.

Harvesting:

1. Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Harvest chicory leaves as needed once they reach a desirable size, typically 6-8 inches long. Cut outer leaves near the base of the plant to encourage continued growth.
2. Harvesting and storage guidelines: Use fresh chicory leaves immediately for the best flavor. Alternatively, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. Chicory roots can be harvested in late fall or early spring, washed, dried, and roasted for use as a coffee substitute.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• Start chicory seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: ¼ inch
• Seed spacing: Scatter seeds lightly over the soil surface
• Plant spacing: 6-8 inches apart
• Number of seeds per pot/container: 2-3 seeds per pot, thinning to one seedling per pot
• Water preferences: Keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged
• Sun preferences: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5

Companion Planting: Chicory is a beneficial companion plant for many garden vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. It can help repel pests and attract beneficial insects to the garden.

Temperature Preference: Chicory is a cool-season crop that prefers temperatures between 55°F and 75°F.

Days to Germination: Chicory seeds typically germinate within 7-10 days under optimal conditions.

Days to Harvest: Chicory leaves can be harvested approximately 30-60 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions.