Chicory
Chicory sugar loaf
Chicory sugar loaf: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Sugarloaf chicory is a cultivated form of Cichorium intybus in the Asteraceae family. It is recognisable by an elongated head of green leaves wrapped around a paler heart. Its outline resembles a large cos lettuce, although it belongs to a different botanical genus. The name sugarloaf refers to its upright, tapering shape rather than a crop intended to produce sugar. This distinctive form gives it an identity among the many leafy vegetables found in a garden or kitchen.Outer leaves are generally greener and more open than those in the centre. Inner leaves, shaded by the surrounding layers, become paler and often have a more tender texture. A prominent pale central rib contributes to their crunch. The length, width and firmness of the head vary with the selection and growing conditions. Not every plant develops an equally tight heart or an identical outline, so some variation is normal within this type…
