Growing and Sowing White Chicory

Growing white chicory from seeds is done in 2 parts. The first is intended to grow roots and the second to grow the final white chicory. Growing white chicory yourself is not really difficult, but it does take a relatively long time. If it succeeds, it is more than worth it. The taste is often better than bought in the store. Who wouldn't want to eat home-grown white chicory? With our manual it should be doable.

Growing your own white chicory from seeds

White chicory is family of red and green chicory. But unlike the latter varieties, you grow white chicory in 2 stages. The first is intended to grow the roots, the second the actual vegetable. Growing white chicory is not difficult and a fun challenge.

Sowing and planting white chicory

There are different varieties of white chicory. The somewhat older varieties grown in the past and new varieties. The difference is in how they should be grown. The original varieties need to be covered with soil. This means that in order for the heads to grow compactly, there must be a layer of soil on top. With the new varieties, where it says ‘without topsoil’, this is not necessary. Because this is not necessary, you can see the growth better during the second phase and you can also do this at home in a bucket or container.

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Position and soil

In the first phase, white chicory prefers not to be in full sun, but in partial shade. It grows on any soil except clay. The most important thing is that the soil is airy, so that the pens can develop properly. Before sowing, you can enrich the soil with compost. This makes the soil airier and provides nutrients. The second phase must be done in the dark.

The first stage is to sow the seeds. Preferably do not pre-sow as the plant develops a long taproot, which makes it difficult to transplant.  Sow in May in the garden, in rows with a row distance of about 30 cm. Try to sow thinly, although this is quite difficult as it is very fine seed. After the seed has emerged, you can thin out, leaving a planting distance of about 15 cm.

From mid-September to the end of November, depending on the weather, the chicory plants can be dug up. This should be done carefully to avoid damage. Carefully tap off the sand and leave the pens in a dry cool place for at least two weeks. Do cover them to avoid drying out. This way, the pens can still store some nutrients. After 2 weeks of rest, the foliage can be cut off. Do this with a sharp knife at least 3 cm from the root pin to avoid damaging the root pin. After this, phase 2 can start.

Potting up with cover soil is usually done in October and November. Here you put the pens in the soil, in about the same way as described above, but now you also cover the top with a layer of soil and possibly a dark cloth. The chicory pegs and also the chicory that grows should be dark. You can then harvest in April/May.

How to care for your white chicory plants

In the first phase, it is important to thin out the white chicory plants carefully once they have emerged. This is important to give the chicory pens enough space to grow. Furthermore, regular weeding is sufficient.

In the second phase, with both cultivation methods, it is important not to let the pens dry out. Water regularly so that the soil does not dry out. Too much is of course not good either. Furthermore, it is important that the white chicory plants are kept really dark.

When and how to harvest white chicory?

This depends on which method you used. With the method without cover soil, harvesting can often be done 3 weeks after potting up. In cold cultivation, with cover soil, in the open ground, harvesting can be done in April/May.

How to preserve white chicory

White chicory can be stored in the vegetable drawer of fridge and will keep for about a week. You can also freeze it, either raw or blanched. It does lose its crispness in the process.

Is white chicory healthy?

White chicory is very healthy. It contains many vitamins (A, several types of B and C) and minerals (magnesium, manganese, zinc, calcium, iron, folic acid and potassium, among others) and is also low in calories.

White chicory Seeds in our collection

We have different varieties of chicory seeds in our range, such as organic seeds and seeds for growing white chicory without cover soil.

Tips to grow white chicory

The chicory pens can be dug up for a longer period of time after the first phase. To spread the final chicory harvest a bit, you could do the digging and repotting in different periods. That way you can harvest fresh chicory for longer.

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