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Chicory Information
Average planting success with this species: 80%
Height: 2-4 feet
Germination: 7-21 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 65-75F
Sowing depth: 1/16"
Blooming period: May-October
Average seeds per pound: 426,000
Seeding rate: 5 lbs. per acre
Suggested use: Herb gardens, isolated areas.
Miscellaneous: When World War II disrupted shipping, most U.S. "coffee"
was produced from chicory. Caffine-free, it is regaining popularity.
http://www.taoherbfarm.com/herbs/herbs/chicory.htm
Uses: Roots of chicory are dried, ground and used as a coffee substitute or supplement. Roots are also grown during the summer, dug and buried upright in damp sand or other material for forcing in winter under moderate heat. This produces the witloof, or French endive, used as a salad. In general growth characteristics, chicory is very similar to carrots. The leaves, rich in iron, calcium, and copper, are applied as a poultice for inflammation. The root is diuretic and a tonic with a taste of caramel.
Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a close relative.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/chicory.html
Endive (Cichorium endiva and chicory Cichorium intybus) are members of the Composite family
ABOUT CHICORY
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a perennial herb plant that is suited to well drained or moderately drained soils with medium to high fertility levels and a pH of 5.5 or greater. Chicory, if managed properly, produces leafy growth which is higher in nutritive and Mineral content than alfalfa and cool season grasses. Protein levels range between 10 to 32 percent depending on plant maturity, and annual dry matter yields of 6 tons/acre have been obtained. It has a deep tap root which provides for tolerance to drought conditions. Chicory is a warm season plant providing abundant forage from spring to fall and is a favored food of livestock, ostrich and many wild game animals to include deer, turkey and quail. The chicory plant is used in many parts of the world also for sugar, coffee additives and salads.
ESTABLISHMENT
Seeding into a tilled seedbed
A moist, firm seedbed is required. In the North, plant in the spring or early summer. In the South, fall plantings are best. Seed may be either drilled or broadcast. Drilling is preferred as it provides a more uniform depth of planting. Plant 1/4 to l/2" deep. Cultipacking the seedbed before and after broadcast seeding ensures that the seeds have good soil-to-soil contact and are not planted too deep.
Seeding into an existing pasture
Frost seeding and no-till drilling are two methods. Broadcast seed early in the morning during late winter or early spring when the soil freezes at night but thaws later during the day. The freezing creates ice crystals which melt during the day creating small holes in which the seeds can fall. No-till seeding into existing pastures can be successful provided a suppressive herbicide is first used to reduce competition from the sod.
Seeding rates
Alone= 4-5 lbs/acre. With mixture of grasses and/or legumes=1-2 lbs/acre.
Fertility requirements
'Take soil test to determine needs at seeding. Raise pH to at least 5.5. In absence of soil test consult your local Cooperative Extension Agent, or fertilizer company, to determine the preplant fertilizer requirement for your area. Chicory requires high level of fertility for maximum production. It is also very responsive to nitrogen. Apply 75-110 lb/acre of urea nitrogen (46-0- 0) or the equivalent, three times yearly, once in early spring, slimmer and fall, if grown without a legume. With a legume, apply nitrogen at half rate.
MANAGEMENT
Under cultivation
Chicory can be harvested 80-100 days after planting. For optimum performance and persistence, Chicory should be rotationally strip grazed, or machine harvested. Optimum harvest height is 12-18 inches, leaving a stubble height of 1.5 inches. Allow a rest period of 25-30 days between harvests. Care must be taken to keep the growth under control and not allow the seed stems to develop and bolt. If stalks should appear, immediately graze or mow to keep the plant vegetative and force new growth. When strip grazing, a back fence should be used so that regrowth will not be grazed and the stand weakened.
In a wild setting
The chicory plant is a survivor and requires just minimal care to persist and provide abundant wildlife food. The use of three applications of nitrogen (75-110 lbs urea/acre) promotes green leafy growth, while one application of only 75-110 lbs urea/acre in the spring promotes seed stalk and flower formation which favors birds and natural reseeding. If the objective is leafy browse production, mowing will again make the stand vegetative if bolting has occurred.
Melana Hiatt