Belgian chicory
Cichorium intybus var. foliosum
A vegetable, sown May to June. It needs 3 jobs a year.
In September: blanch the Belgian chicory.
Add Belgian chicory to my plot
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Belgian chicory, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Plant out. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Force the Belgian chicory (Witloof forcing types only). | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Cut the Belgian chicory. | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | usual |
| Blanch the Belgian chicory. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow outdoors May to June, 1cm deep, 15cm apart, rows 30cm apart. Strong source: RHS.
Force the Belgian chicory
For Witloof forcing types only.
Dig up the roots, discard any under 2.5cm across at the crown, and cut the leaves to 2.5cm.
Usually November to February. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the Belgian chicory
Usually August, and December to March. Strong source: RHS.
Blanch the Belgian chicory
Cover the potted roots with black polythene or an upturned bucket and keep at 10 to 15°C.
Usually August to November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.
Add Belgian chicory to my plot
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Belgian chicory” comes from.