Wild Chicory

What Wild Chicory is

Wild Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a perennial vegetable of the Daisy family (Asteraceae). Reaches up to 120 cm. tall.

The leaves are edible but quite bitter, especially when the plants flower. They are less bitter in winter and are an excellent addition to salads at this time of year.

The root is said to be an ideal food for diabetics because of its inulin content. Inulin can be used to make a sweetener that is suitable for use by diabetics.

Chicory is a widely used plant as a choleretic, appetite-stimulating and laxative remedy. It also improves metabolism and heart function, and lowers blood sugar levels.

Chicory (radicchio, sugarloaf chicory) is a crunchy, bittersweet salad for autumn and winter.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 80%
• Seeds per packet: 1912–2588 pcs (5 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March and April; direct
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Wild Chicory

Wild Chicory seeds are sown in March and April. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Wild Chicory

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Chicory is sown in the second half of March and early April, in rows with a row spacing of 20-25 cm or in double-row strips with a strip spacing of 50 cm and a row spacing of 20 cm. When thinning, 15-20 cm is left between the plants in the row. Chicory is frost-hardy and requires a cool, moist climate. It does not tolerate fertilising with fresh manure.

Sow from May to July; thin in good time and water in drought.

Harvest and use

Pick the heads in autumn — frosts soften the bitterness.

Frequently asked questions

When should Wild Chicory be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 1912–2588 seeds, pack size 5 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 80%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Why is chicory bitter?

Bitterness is characteristic of the species; frosts and blanching soften it.