Plant the seeds to a depth of 1−1.5 cm, in rows with a distance of 40 cm between them.
The seeds germinate at a temperature of 10 degrees after 8−10 days.
How to grow chicory correctly
When propagating chicory by seeds, they should be sown in well-moistened soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm.
The crops are covered with soil from above.
Chicory does not need additional covering with foil.
Before planting, find a location away from crops, as the smell of chicory often attracts pests.
When 2-3 true leaves appear on the plants, they are thinned out, leaving 10-15 cm between plants in a row.
You should choose a room outside the city or in an industrial zone.
How long does chicory grow
They do not have a dormant period, germinate a few days after falling on the soil and overwinter in the form of a rosette of leaves.
Under natural conditions, chicory blooms only after a few years, and under cultivated conditions - in the second year.
Is it possible to collect chicory flowers
In medicine and cooking, both the upper part of the plant and the roots are used.
Therefore, chicory is harvested twice a year.
The above-ground part and inflorescences are collected during the flowering period - for the middle zone from July to September.
To prepare chicory raw materials for coffee mixture, chicory roots are dug up in the fall of the second year after sowing.
Chicory root coffee: The washed roots are air dried and roasted.
After roasting, they lose their bitterness and acquire a dark brown color and a delicate aroma.
