Cichorium intybus

Chicory is a very versatile plant that is equally cherished as a flower and as an herb. Though chicory is most famously used in teas, it has also traditionally been used to flavor coffees as well.

Chicory has been in cultivation since the days of ancient Egypt, the roots being ground for “chicory coffee”,  Leaves have been used since Roman times for medicines. Along a roadside in bright sun, this is one of the biggest shows in the flower kingdom. A native of the British Isles, chicory has been naturalized all over the world.  It flowers at two to three feet tall.

Chicory  is subject of several romantic legends, chicory is one of our most historic wildflowers.

Chicory, with sugar beet and rye was used as an ingredient of the East German Mischkaffee (mixed coffee), introduced during the 'coffee crisis' of 1976 to 1979

Cichorium intybus characters

Common Name :Chicory

Other Names : Common Chicory, Blue Dandelion, Blue Sailors, Coffeeweed, Succory Duration: Perennial Bloom Time: Summer-Fall

Botanical Name :Cichorium intybus

Plant Type :Perennials

Light Requirements :Full Sun

Flower Color: Blue

Mature Height:36-48 inches tall

Bloom Time:Summer

Seeds Per Pound :425,923

Soil Moisture:Average, Well Draining

Soil Type:Clay Soil, Sandy Soil, Loamy Soil

Native To:Europe

Growing intybus characters

1. Arrange the soil. Chicory can live or grow within well drained land where is fertile with nutrients. However, the Chicory plant will grow inside other soils when they are improved with organic fertilizers and a lot of compost manure.
2. Spread the plant/seeds for 9 inches to 1.5 foot apart with 1.5 inches deep. Try to grow this plant/seed in early spring until summer for the period of one month following the final frost.
3. Expect the plant/seeds to sprout and separate seedlings to have them grown up over 8 inches apart. The sprouting time for Chicory growth is from 2 to 4 weeks.
4. Remove the wild weeds from your sprouts and spray water onto them well. If you would love to harvest either plants or roots, you can do after three months and a half. The foliage can be picked out of the garden or used within a new salad.
5. This phase is the time when seed Chicory starts to shoot or germinate. Therefore, arrange pots to plant the Chicory roots. This time, the soil should be fine for them like sand kept in a shed with the cool temperature.
6. Trim their roots on a straight line, one to three inches above its crown.
7. Grow the cut roots to stimulate the crown to be one or three inches on top of the ground.
8. Store other upturned pots above the root tops. Block pot holes to prevent daylight from impacting the plants/seeds.
9. The tender and small leaves are harvested after around 7 weeks. The shoots are valuable in favor of their soft texture and mild flavor.

Nutrition / Benefit of Cichorium intybus

The Chicory or Cichorium intybus is invented as food such as Crispy chicken breast plus fennel salad and braised chicory, potato salad with Finger licking ribs, Stuffed saddle, Roast pheasant plus wild mushrooms and caramelized walnuts, Braised chicory with beans and so on. Moreover, within Chicory there are several vitamins such as Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-Complex, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Additionally, Chicory is produced as Chicory Syrup also known as Inulin. The Inulin always supports the ability of people’s bodies to absorb or attract calcium which assists in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth.
Furthermore, Chicory can be added to a lot of coffee in order to mellow the coffee quality in favor of young generations. Chicory, also known as Cichorium intybus, is a perennial herbaceous, somewhat woody and erect plant with brilliant blue flowers. Different varieties are developed for roots, chicons, or salad leaves which are ground, baked or used for additive or coffee substitute. It is planted as a forage plant in favor of livestock. The Chicory plant lives as a wildlife plant beyond roadsides within native Europe such asAustralia and North America where this plant has turned naturalized. Anyway, “Chicory” is the popular name as well in the U.S.A for a curly-leave plant – Cichorium endivia. No one needs a green thumb to grow this plant.

Buying intybus characters

For US and Canada growers : Buy bull seeds from americanmeadows or retail packet form victoryseeds ( $1.75 0.25g-200s)

Asia grower can buy from TM Garden or Vuon cua Bon

International buyer can buy directly from Amazon here.