Chicory
Chicory is a plant with many health benefits. As well as being rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, it is also renowned for its diuretic and detoxifying properties. It can be cooked in a variety of ways: raw in salads, steamed, sautéed or braised. With its slightly bitter taste, it adds a touch of freshness and originality to many dishes.
To grow chicory in the vegetable garden, we recommend sowing it directly in the ground, 1 to 2 cm deep, spacing the seeds 20 to 30 cm apart. Choose a sunny, well-drained, nutrient-rich spot. Chicory can also be planted in pots or window boxes, as long as they are watered regularly.
Caring for chicory is fairly straightforward. It is important to keep the soil fresh by watering regularly, while preventing excess water from rotting the roots. It is advisable to mulch the soil to keep down weeds and preserve moisture. Lastly, you can apply a fertiliser rich in potassium to encourage leaf formation.
The harvesting period for chicory depends on the variety grown. In general, you can start harvesting leaves 2 to 3 months after sowing. It is advisable to remove the outer leaves by cutting them off at the base, to encourage new leaf growth. Chicory can be stored in the fridge for several days, wrapping it well in a damp cloth.
Chicory
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical family : Asteraceae (composites)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Sun
- Hardiness : Frost resistant
- Cultivation difficulty : Very easy to grow, requires little maintenance (difficulty : 1/3)
- Adult height : 60 cm
Sowing & planting
- Plant spacing : 20 cm
- Row spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water requirements : Moderate