Chicory - Cichorium Intybus

Approximate seeds per pound: 425,923
Seeding rate: 5 pounds per acre
Height: Up to 4 ft.
Flower Color: True brilliant pastel blue
Plant Type: Perennial
Flower Type: Daisy-like
Bloom Time: Mid and late season
Is Chicory invasive? Potentially
Is Chicory endangered? No
Is Chicory edible? Yes
Is Chicory medicinal? Yes
Regions: All regions, prohibited in CO
Zones: 3 - 9
Soil preference: Adaptable
Sun/Shade: Full sun
Moisture Requirements: Average moisture, well-drained.
Germination: 7 - 21 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 65F - 75F
Sowing depth: 1/4"

Chicory is a perennial wild flower seed that grows best in well-drained or moderately drained soils. It prefers medium to higher fertility levels and a pH of 5.5 or greater. Chicory produces leafy growth that is higher in nutritive and mineral content than is produced by alfalfa or cool season grasses. It is drought tolerant due to its taproot which go down deep to provide ample water. Chicory provides both spring and summer forage with average growth rates from April through October of 50 pounds per acre per day. Chicory is a relatively new forage crop in the United States but has been used in other countries for more than 300 years. With warm temperatures in the spring it produces large numbers of leaves from the crown. In late spring, often during the second year of establishment, a few flower stems begin to develop from the crown and will reach heights of 6 feet. Even though chicory has a thick taproot, it can be exposed and damaged by overgrazing, excessive hoof traffic, and frost heaving.

Seeding into an existing pasture - Broadcasting and no-till drilling are two methods that can be used to seed chicory wild flower seed into existing pastures. Broadcast chicory seed onto existing pastures during the late winter or early spring when the soil freezes at night but thaws during the day. The freezing creates ice crystals that melt during the day and leave small holes in which the seeds can fall. To improve the success of this method, also called frost seeding, be certain to broadcast the seed early in the day before the soil thaws.

Seeding into a tilled seedbed - A moist, firm seedbed is required for forage chicory, chicory-grass, or chicory-legume mixtures. Spring seedings of chicory are usually successful. Summer seedings have been successful in some areas with proper irrigation. You do not want to seed Chicory after the middle of August as cooling temperatures and shortening day lengths in the fall impede chicory stand development. You may either drill or broadcast chicory seed when planting although drilling is preferred because it provides a more uniform depth of planting. Plant chicory wildflower seed 0.25 inch deep. Cultipacking the seedbed before and after broadcast seeding ensures the seeds have good seed-to-soil contact and are not planted too deep.

For more information on Chicory you may go to PSU where this information was adapted from. Click the link if you would like to view the PDF file from PSU. [Chicory]