Chicory sugar loaf: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How to sow sugarloaf chicory successfully outdoors?
For mature sugarloaf chicory heads, choose a variety suited to your climate and follow its sowing season. In temperate regions, outdoor sowing often takes place in early or midsummer for an autumn harvest. A very early spring sowing exposed to cold can encourage bolting, while a late sowing may leave insufficient growing time. Dates and spacing can differ when you grow the plants for young salad leaves.
Choose a sunny position, with some light shade during intense heat if appropriate, and fertile soil that retains moisture while draining well. Remove weeds, break down surface clods and add mature compost if soil fertility warrants it. Deep digging and making the soil more acidic are not automatic requirements.
Sow thinly about 1 cm deep, adjusted to the packet instructions, in rows approximately 30 cm apart. Cover lightly, firm gently and water carefully. Gradually thin to about 30 cm between plants for mature heads, according to the variety. Maintain steady moisture without standing water and watch for slugs. Avoid thick mulch over the seed row, as it can obstruct emerging seedlings.
How do you harvest sugarloaf chicory?
