Since chicory thrives as a biennial plant, classic propagation methods such as division or cuttings are not available. The popular ornamental and useful plant makes up for this shortcoming by gifting us with numerous seeds. You can find out how to harvest and sow the seeds here.
How is chicory propagated?
The chicory is propagated by collecting seeds: Harvest the brown, dried seed heads after the flowering period and remove the seeds. In mid-May the seeds are sown directly into the bed, paying attention to the height and spacing. Flowering occurs in the second year.
Seed harvesting with sensitivity – this is how it works
At the end of the flowering period, the pretty blue flowers turn into 2-3 mm small seed heads. If these have turned brown and dried, they are harvested in good time before the mother plant distributes the seeds in the garden. The seeds are located in the base of the flower.
To get to the seeds, pluck off the dried flower parts. A honeycomb-shaped structure appears underneath, which is made up of the seeds. If this structure is rubbed between your fingers, you will hold tiny, slightly angular seeds in your hands. Until next May, keep the seeds dry, dark and airtight.
Sow chicory directly into the bed - How to do it right
The best time to sow chicory seeds begins in mid-May. To do this, prepare a fine, crumbly seed area in a sunny, warm location. This is how you plant the seeds professionally:
- Make 3 cm deep furrows with a stick at a distance of 30-40 cm
- Spread the seeds there, close the furrows and water with a fine spray
- Protect the bed from birds and snails with a close-meshed net (€11.00 on Amazon)
From a height of 5-6 cm, the seedlings are separated at a distance of 10 cm. As a result, keep the soil constantly slightly moist and pull out the weeds daily. In the year of sowing, the chicory only develops a rosette of leaves. The following year the longed-for inflorescence appears from June to October.
Tip
In 2009, the Loki Schmidt Foundation named the common chicory flower of the year. This campaign specifically drew attention to the threatened habitat of this blue natural beauty. By propagating the flower in your garden, you are making an important contribution to its preservation. The valuable wildflowers should not be taken from the wild.
