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Chicory Seeds for Planting – Cichorium intybus Garden Seeds

Chicory Seeds for Planting – Cichorium intybus Garden Seeds

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Regular price $16.99 USD
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Ordered Aug 29
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Delivered Sep 13 – Sep 16
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Key Features

  • Classic Chicory Variety: Cichorium intybus is valued for its deep taproot and attractive blue flowers.
  • Beautiful Blue Blooms: Produces daisy-like, sky-blue flowers that brighten borders and naturalized garden areas.
  • Distinctive Plant Form: Upright growth with toothed green foliage and a strong, elongated root system.
  • Versatile Garden Use: Suitable for cottage gardens, wildflower areas, borders, and pollinator-friendly plantings.
  • Easy Garden Addition: A hardy plant that can establish well in suitable soils with adequate sunlight and drainage.

Growing Benefits

  • Adds graceful blue flowers and attractive foliage to garden spaces.
  • Provides an interesting perennial plant for cottage-style and naturalized gardens.
  • Deep-rooted growth makes chicory an appealing choice for established garden beds.
  • Offers both ornamental interest and traditional culinary uses.
  • A rewarding choice for gardeners interested in growing classic heritage plants.

Seed Specifications

  • Common Name: Chicory, Common Chicory, Blue Chicory
  • Botanical Name: Cichorium intybus
  • Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, often grown as a biennial or annual crop
  • Colors: Blue flowers; green foliage
  • Height: Typically about two to five feet
  • Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
  • Water: Moderate; keep young plants evenly moist
  • Germination Time: Approximately seven to twenty-one days
  • Sowing Depth: About one-quarter inch deep
  • Spacing: About eight to twelve inches apart
  • Growing Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones three through ten
  • Flowering/Maturity: Flowers mainly from summer into early fall; root maturity varies with growing conditions and intended use
  • Uses: Garden borders, cottage gardens, naturalized areas, edible greens, roots, and traditional herbal uses

Growing Tips

  • Sow seeds in well-drained soil where plants can receive plenty of sunlight.
  • Keep the seedbed consistently moist but avoid waterlogged conditions.
  • Thin young seedlings early to provide enough room for healthy root development.
  • Remove unwanted flower heads if you want to reduce natural reseeding in the garden.

Seed Storage

Store unused chicory seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Keep them in a tightly sealed, moisture-resistant container away from heat and humidity. Properly stored seeds generally maintain better viability than seeds exposed to moisture, light, and temperature fluctuations.

Unique Facts About Seeds

  • Chicory belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same botanical family as lettuce, daisies, and sunflowers.
  • Its botanical name, Cichorium intybus, refers to a plant traditionally cultivated for both its leaves and roots.
  • Chicory produces distinctive blue flower heads that commonly open during daylight and may close later in the day.
  • The plant develops a long taproot, which is one reason chicory has been valued as both a garden plant and root crop.

Growing Instructions

Planting Season: Sow chicory seeds in early spring when the soil can be worked, or in late summer where local conditions allow a fall crop. Timing varies according to climate and intended use.

Sowing: Prepare a fine, weed-free seedbed and scatter or sow seeds in shallow rows. Cover lightly with soil.

Depth: Plant seeds approximately one-quarter inch deep. Avoid burying them too deeply because small seeds need good access to moisture and air.

Spacing: Thin seedlings to approximately eight to twelve inches apart. Wider spacing can be useful when growing plants specifically for larger roots.

Sunlight: Choose a location receiving full sun for strong growth and better flowering. Partial shade can also be tolerated.

Soil: Use loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid poorly drained areas where water remains around the roots.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist during germination and early establishment. Once established, water when the soil begins to dry, adjusting for rainfall and temperature.

Germination: Seeds commonly germinate within approximately seven to twenty-one days under suitable moisture and temperature conditions.

Transplanting: Direct sowing is generally preferred because chicory develops a substantial taproot. If transplanting is necessary, move young seedlings carefully with minimal root disturbance.

Fertilizing: Start with reasonably fertile soil. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, particularly when growing chicory for roots, as it can encourage excessive leafy growth.

Care: Keep the planting area free from competing weeds while seedlings establish. Thin crowded plants and maintain consistent moisture during periods of dry weather.

Flowering/Maturity: Chicory commonly produces its characteristic blue flowers during summer and may continue flowering into early fall. Root or leaf maturity depends on the variety, planting time, weather, and intended harvest stage.