Chicory, 'Brussels Witloof'

Germination

Requires a prepared soil with plenty of compost. Rake a general fertilizer in a few days before sowing. Sow directly May-Jul. Sow seed thinly 15mm deep in rows 20cm apart. Germination takes 7-21 days approx. Thin seedlings to 20cm spacing. Water until established. In October trim off top growth leaving 1-2cm above ground. Then cover plant with a device or container which will completely block out the light, the chicons should form. Alternatively dig up the root after trimming and store in dry sand or dry soil and place in the dark. Repot when desired, again ensuring light is excluded for forcing.

Growing

Prefers a finely prepared, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun for root formation. When growing a forced Chicory you need to grow a plant with a perennial root first and then you need to lift or cover the root in autumn to prepare it for forcing and blanching. The root can take up to 5 months to form. Darkness is needed for the chicons to form. This Chicory can be forced in situ by covering with straw which will block out the light or ideally the roots can be lifted, transferred to pots, and placed somewhere dark and cool such as a shed or garage, or simply cover the pot with something such as a bucket. To form the chicon the root should have the foliage trimmed from it, once the root is covered chicon formation takes 3-5 weeks, ideal temp. 10-15°C. Keep soil moist.

Cultivation

The forced chicons need total darkness to form. They prefer a temp. of 10-15°C. The chicons are ready to harvest when 15cm high approx., this takes 3-5 weeks from the start of forcing. To remove chicon simply cut away just above the crown, this will allow a second chicon to form.