Growing Chicory, also Witloof, Belgian endive

Cichorium intybus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
        T              
      P P              

(Best months for growing Chicory in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 10 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 16-24 weeks. Will need forcing before final harvest.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, onions, Florence fennel, tomatoes.
  • Forced (blanched) witloof

Prepare to store for forcing at around 4 - 5 months. The second stage, blanching will take 8 - 12 weeks.

To Blanch: Lift the plants and cut off the leaves about 5 cm (2 in) above the roots. Shorten the roots to about 20 - 25cm (8 - 10 in) and replant close together (3 - 5 cm apart)in a pot filled with loose soil. Keep damp but not soggy.

Cover to exclude light and keep out of the sunlight, but not below 10 °C (50 °F)

Exclude light until you use the witloof, if it goes green it will be bitter.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chicory

Good in salads.
Grill lightly with butter.
Bake with ham and cheese.

Your comments and tips

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31 Aug 07, Ellen (Unknown climate)
Hi, I grew witloof two years ago in NZ cold/mountain climate with quite a success. I sew the seeds in spring and up rooted them in autumn to go into the dark. I got my seeds from KingSeeds and have another go this year. Brilliant website though, just what I was looking for. Thank you very much for setting it up. Keep up the good work. Cheers Ellen
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14 Sep 07, yvan garcia (Unknown climate)
i would like to grow witloof chicory i live in qld australia but i do not know how can you help? thankyou yvan
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07 Jun 21, Wendy Stone (Australia - tropical climate)
Yeah I just bought seedlings from Coles.. Now is the time to plant Yvan. All the best Wendy
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11 Sep 12, piero carrarq (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where can I get witloof seeds in za - jhb - your help would be much appreciated.
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04 Oct 12, Catharina Claessens (Australia - temperate climate)
I am from belgium and this is one of the very few things i miss from that cold country! In my 5years here i've only found it once, just a random addition to the regular veggies at woolies one week, but sadly never again. Does anyone know where i could buy over here (or seeds and try and grow it i suppose, although thats a lot of hassle in this case i reckon)? And my suggestion is definitely in the oven with ham and lots of cheese ;)
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04 Oct 12, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Our local Coles had it for the last 3 months, but I think it's out of season now. Maybe try them instead of Woolies? Eden Seeds had seed
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20 Jul 19, marcel Launay (Australia - temperate climate)
i live Kingston SE of SA where i could find chicory witloff seed pls ,,
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12 Dec 12, Reinout (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Piero, I brought some witlof seeds from holland two years back. Don't mind sharing. I'm in Wesdene, JHB.
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15 Dec 12, Carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How about roots
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22 Jan 13, (Australia - arid climate)
On lineThe Italian Gardener
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Showing 1 - 10 of 65 comments
See comments for all plants

Chicory, including the red variety called radicchio in Australia, is a very diverse group of plants from small and mid-sized pale and dark green varieties grown for their leaves and stems, variegated red and green heading varieties to red heading varieties with white ribs such as the classic Treviso, palla rossa, rossa di Verona etc. There are also varieties, including witloof or Belgian endive (actually a chicory) that near maturity leaves are cut off at ground level and the roots either lifted and replanted in a dark area such as a cellar or covered by a light-excluding bucket or the like. the shoots are white or pale coloured because they are grown in the dark. Grumolo varieties of chicory are treated similarly, except they are grown with full light exposure after cutting and develop the most attractive rosettes of either red or green leaves. Small cutting chicories such as zuccherina di Trieste can be grown all but mid summer in temperate zones, while the larger varieties, particularly the heading varieties need to mature in cool or cold weather so need to be planted in mid to late summer. Think of them as savoy cabbages or Brussel sprouts.

- Geoff

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