How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Chicory

One of my most vivid plant memories involves chicory. I was spending a summer morning outside with friends when I noticed a plant covered in delicate purple flowers. Not wanting to be left behind, I hurried along with my friends, vowing to return later that day to photograph the blooms. But when I returned that evening, the flowers were nowhere to be found. Had I imagined them?

That’s when I learned about one of the many fascinating aspects of chicory. Not only does this plant close its flowers each evening, but it also grows well in many different soil types and conditions.

And don’t forget chicory’s many benefits! All plant parts are edible and have varied culinary uses. Keep reading to learn how to plant, grow, and care for common chicory.

What Is It?

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a flowering, perennial herb that grows on roadsides, abandoned meadows, and other disturbed areas. It produces bitter yet edible green leaves, light purple flowers, and a thick root that people use as a coffee substitute or fiber supplement. Although this herb often gets overlooked as a weed, it makes a multi-purpose and low-maintenance addition to your garden.

Chicory vs. Radicchio

The term chicory can be confusing since people sometimes use this word to refer to endive (Cichorium endivia) and radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum). While all these plants are part of the chicory family, they have different characteristics.

Humans have selected and bred radicchio to produce heads of tender, slightly bitter leaves ranging from red to speckled green to pink. While these plants also flower and produce large roots, they are grown for their foliage rather than roots. On the other hand, common chicory will never produce a head of leaves.

Characteristics

Chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant that can sometimes take on woody characteristics. During its first year of life, it grows a rosette of green leaves that resemble a dandelion plant. The leaves grow four to ten inches long and are deeply lobed or toothed.

During the second year, the plant sends up a tall, tough, hollow stem that produces a milky sap when cut. The stems grow up to four feet tall and develop a branching form.

The plants produce periwinkle or light purple flowers from early summer through fall. These flowers are daisy-like in appearance and about an inch wide. Flowers open in the morning and close in the late afternoon, so don’t be surprised when the blooms seem to disappear by the evening.

Chicory plants also produce thick roots that resemble dandelion roots. The roots exude a white, milky sap when broken.

Native Area

Common chicory is native to much of Europe and western Asia, including areas around the Mediterranean. It grows wild alongside roads, meadows, and other locations with lots of sun. The plants happily thrive in loose, fertile soil or even poor, compacted soil. This species isn’t picky.

It’s become naturalized in other parts of the world, including North America. Chicory thrives in disturbed sites like railroad lines, roadsides, and old construction sites.

Planting

Although chicory plants often grow wild in disturbed areas, you can also plant them in your garden. They grow better in the ground than in containers.

Since they’re suited to various soils, don’t worry too much about soil type. However, you’ll want to choose a location with full sun. Since the plants can grow up to four feet tall and three feet wide, make sure to plant them in a spot where they won’t encroach on other plants.

Storebought Starts

If you can find seedlings at a garden center or nursery, you can easily transplant them in your garden. Look for healthy green seedlings with strong root systems that aren’t rootbound.

Choose a location with full sun. The soil type isn’t super important, but choose an area with loose and well-draining soil if possible. Ensure the plants have three feet of space to spread out without shading other plants. Loosen the soil with a shovel or digging fork, place the seedling in the ground, cover the top of the root ball with soil, and water well.

Growing from Seed

If you decide to grow chicory from seed, you can start seeds indoors in trays or plant them directly in your garden. I like to start the seeds indoors since this lets me get a jump start on the growing season and protects the tender seedlings from pests like slugs and rabbits.

Since I like to plant my chicory seedlings outdoors shortly after the last frost occurs, I start the seeds about six weeks before the predicted last frost date. You can also start seeds after this date and plant them outdoors later in the spring.

To start, gather a well-draining potting mix, seed starting trays, and chicory seeds. Lightly water the potting mix so it’s moist but not sopping wet, then fill the trays with the mix. Make a quarter-inch indent in each of the tray’s cells and place two seeds in each hole. Cover with potting mix and water well.

Set the trays somewhere warm, between 65°F and 80°F. Keep the soil moist for the next week. The seeds will sprout about five days after planting.

As soon as you see the seedlings emerge, move them to somewhere with bright light. If you have a greenhouse or sunroom, that’s great! But don’t worry if you’re working with a dim house. I start all my seedlings indoors under grow lights, and they grow just fine. Make sure to choose bright, full-spectrum lights, and keep the lights on for 12–14 hours each day. The lights should be just a few inches above the tops of the seedlings.

Once the chicory seedlings are about an inch tall, thin the plants to one seedling per cell. Keep the soil moist throughout this time. You can harden off the seedlings when they’re two to three inches tall.

If you plant your seedlings directly in your garden, wait until after the last frost occurs. While you can plant seeds before this time, the seeds will germinate slowly in cool weather.

Sprinkle seeds about one to two inches apart and cover them with a quarter inch of soil. I like to cover the seeds with a layer of row cover to help warm the soil and protect seedlings from wind and pests. Once the seedlings are about an inch tall, thin the plants so they are 12 to 18 inches apart.

How to Grow

Chicory plants are easy to grow. The most challenging part of growing these plants is caring for the tender seedlings since slugs, rabbits, snails, and deer find them delectable. If the plants reach their second year, they’ll continue to grow with little care.

Light

Chicory thrives in full sun. The plants like to receive at least eight hours of direct light each day, but they can also grow in part shade. Just don’t plant them on the shady side of your house or under shade trees.

Water

Since the seedlings lack robust root systems and tend to be fairly shallowly rooted, they require moderate water. Aim to keep the soil moist for the month following transplanting. The ideal watering schedule depends on temperature, wind, and soil type, but plan to water the seedlings two to four times per week.

Once the seedlings are a few months old, their root systems will allow them to tolerate moderate drought. I rarely water my mature chicory plants, except during intense summer droughts.

Soil

One of my favorite things about chicory plants is how they tolerate a wide range of soils. Dealing with compacted and nutrient-poor soil? Chicory doesn’t mind. Have a heavy clay soil that’s tough to garden in? Try a chicory plant!

The plant’s ability to thrive in many soils explains why you see it growing in disturbed (and unideal) areas like beside railroads and in abandoned lots. It’s not that the chicory can’t grow in fertile, loose soil, but rather that the plant capitalizes on areas where few other plants can grow.

Fortunately, chicory will tolerate just about any soil you place it in. But since it doesn’t like sitting in waterlogged or moist soil, avoid planting it in low-lying areas. And if you’re growing for its roots, plant it in loose and well-aerated soil. This will lead to larger roots and a bigger harvest.

Temperature and Humidity

You’re partially correct if you think chicory is a cool-weather crop. Many plants in the genus grow best in cooler weather, but that’s because humans grow them for their greens. Warmer weather causes the plants to bolt, which leads to supremely bitter greens.

However, since people often grow common chicory for its roots, you don’t have to worry about the plant bolting. In fact, the beautiful flowers are part of the plant’s appeal.

In most cases, it’s best to plant seedlings in the spring when the weather is still cool. The transplants acclimate better in cool weather.

Although the foliage will likely die back in the winter, the roots store energy throughout the winter and send up new growth in the spring. While I never protect my chicory plants in the winter, cover them with row cover or mulch with straw if temperatures drop below 0°F.

Fertilizing

You don’t have to fertilize chicory plants, but a boost of nutrients can improve plant growth. Apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring and again in the middle of summer. Both granular and liquid fertilizers work well. If you forget to fertilize, don’t worry! These plants are used to growing wild on their own.

Maintenance

This is a low-maintenance plant that doesn’t require much care to thrive. When cold weather arrives, the leaves and stalks will die. You can leave them on the plant without any adverse results until it is about to produce new growth in early spring. But if you want to tidy your garden, remove the stems using a sharp pair of shears.

Harvesting and Storage

You can harvest both the leaves and roots. The leaves are best enjoyed fresh, but you can dry and store the roots for later use.

Harvesting Chicory Greens

You can technically eat chicory greens at any time, but the greens become tough and bitter once the plant sends up a stalk. Therefore, harvesting the greens in their first year of growth is best.

You can cut off individual leaves or harvest an entire rosette. But if you want to harvest more than once, leave the interior leaves intact.

Harvest in the early morning or evening to avoid wilted greens. You can enjoy these leaves raw or cooked. Try sauteeing them with butter and garlic, then sprinkling with lemon juice and shredded parmesan cheese.

Harvesting Chicory Roots

Chicory plants will continue to expand their roots as they grow, so choose larger plants over smaller ones. You can dig the roots any time, but moist soil makes digging easier.

Locate a chicory plant and place a shovel in the ground a few inches from its base. Insert the shovel as deep as possible, then gently pull back to loosen the soil. Grab the base of the plant and tug until the root breaks free from the ground.

Use pruning shears to separate the greens from the roots, brush off any excess dirt from the roots, and then wash them with a hose. Bring the roots indoors and scrub them with a vegetable brush to remove the last bits of dirt.

Once the roots are clean, start chopping or shredding them. The roots are tough and fibrous, making them difficult to cut through. Chop them with a sharp chef’s knife or peel them into small strands with a vegetable peeler. Aim for evenly sized pieces.

Now, it’s time to dry the roots. If you have a dehydrator, use it! Another option is to place the roots in a 200°F oven for one to three hours. The roots are ready when they’re dry and lightly brown. Let the roots dry and store them in an airtight container until ready to use them.

Using Chicory Roots

Using chicory roots as a coffee substitute emerged when coffee drinkers craved the bitter brew but faced difficulties accessing beans. Bans on imports, economic depressions, and personal hardships led individuals to experiment with swapping coffee beans for dried chicory roots.

When French citizens settled in New Orleans, they brought their tradition of adding chicory to coffee. This practice flourished during the Civil War and remains popular to this day.

That said, one of the most popular ways to use the roots is as a coffee substitute. You can grind and brew dried chicory roots just like you would coffee. If you brew with only chicory root, expect a sweet and slightly nutty taste.

Chicory root contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber known to support gut health. Consuming the roots can help with constipation and improve gut bacteria.

Common Problems

Chicory faces fewer problems than many plants, making it a joy to care for. However, it’s still susceptible to a few pests and diseases.

Pests

Insects typically leave chicory plants alone, but snails and slugs love to munch on tender chicory seedlings. These mollusks can leave unsightly holes in chicory leaves or decimate seedlings overnight. Watch for these pests and treat them as soon as you notice them.

Since slugs and snails are the most active at night, you may not see the pests during the day. However, you can look for signs like chewed leaves and slime trails.

People mention all kinds of controls for slugs, from beer traps to diatomaceous earth to chickens. While some of these control methods kill a few slugs, I’ve found that a pelletized organic slug and snail bait provides the best control. Just sprinkle some of the pellets on the ground for the slugs and snails to eat. The mollusks will die, but beneficial insects, pets, and children will remain safe.

Mammals are the other major pest of chicory plants. Rabbits dine on tender spring growth, and deer will eat any form of the plant. Covering the plants with row cover or netting is the best way to keep your plants safe.

Diseases

Chicory plants are susceptible to diseases, including downy mildew and anthracnose.

Downy mildew causes new leaves to drop and may also cause a white mold on the underside of mature leaves. The best way to prevent downy mildew is by encouraging good airflow via proper plant spacing. Watering the base of the plants and keeping leaves dry can also help stop the disease from developing.

Anthracnose causes a spattering of small, tan, dry spots on chicory leaves. As the disease progresses, entire leaves may become discolored and die. Removing plant debris at the end of the year and keeping leaves dry can help prevent anthracnose.

If you notice your chicory plant is diseased, there is little you can do to save it. Remove infected leaves and try to prune away parts of the plant to improve airflow. Prevention is the best management strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Consider common chicory if you’re looking for an easy-to-care-for plant that also provides multiple uses. This perennial herb can survive in various environments and produces edible leaves and roots. Plus, you’ll find its delicate purple flowers delightful.