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 S S              
      T T T            

(Best months for growing Chicory in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 25 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 16-24 weeks. Will need forcing before final harvest.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Carrots, onions, Florence fennel, tomatoes.

Your comments and tips

06 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Eden Seeds have chicory seed. I'm not sure whether they are in far northern NSW or SEQld but you will find them on the internet.
24 Aug 16, Peter Reynders (Australia - temperate climate)
Witlof: The Gardenate webpage shows (seed? or seedling -) planting in the diagram to be in June and July . (For Sub-Tropical Australia only - Check other areas: Liz) The above Verbruggen story from Belgium ( quite good) indicates sowing in May. That equates with Australia to about October/November. Q: Can that be changed? Seeds collecting from ones own plants is also indicated there. The root tips cut of for forcing can also be planted in the garden as they also sprout if just at the surface. They may bloom and seed as well. Seed is usually not available in shopping centre seeds racks. But in seed racks of larger nurseries they often are. PR
27 Aug 16, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
30 May 16, (Australia - temperate climate)
where can I buy witloof around Perth?
19 Mar 16, John de Kleuver (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Chicory - Witloof. I live in northern NSW and my planting guide says plant chicory seed in March. Plants have all germinated and I will transplant to 20cm apart. Just want to know how high they may grow? And at what time should I pull up roots and "force" them? Thankyou John
22 Aug 17, Mario Skapin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi John I planted my seeds on the 4th of april and they are now 400-600 mm high will do the next stage this week, this is my first time so i hope it works out cheers Mario
14 Mar 16, Leonarda vlaanderen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
we love witloof We came from Holland been in Australia for 50 Years would love to grow it Or try Where can I get the seeds?
03 Apr 16, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Can get the seeds from The Seed Collection, an online business based in Victoria
28 Jun 14, peter (Australia - arid climate)
where can I buy chicory seeds in perth
27 Aug 13, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
where can I buy witloof in gauteng
Showing 11 - 20 of 27 comments

I bought the seeds from "ITALIAN GARDENER" they are situated in Adelaide, find it on google by the name, they are very obliging and helpful, and they have a mobile number on site that you can call. I bought Radicchio,Salad mix, Cicoria Zucherina di Trieste, witlof and other seeds from them. i am starting to do the final stage with witlof now hope it works. Cheers Mario

- Mario Skapin

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