Many people are familiar with the light yellow chicory that can be bought everywhere, although it is not everyone's kitchen favorite. Some amateur gardeners grow it themselves, but for good reason they don't let it bloom. It's a shame, because its flowers are worthy of admiration.
How does chicory bloom?
Chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) is a cultivated form of the common chicory (Cichorium intybus). Both species open similarsmall basket flowers, which are particularly striking due to theirlight shade of blue. Many flowers are arranged along the branched shoots. They only bloom for one morning each.
What year does chicory bloom?
Chicory is a biennial herbaceous plant that can also be grown in Germany. At first it only forms a rosette consisting of numerous green leaves. Flowers are not expected in the first year. Only in the second year Stems up to 1.5 m high sprout, which are covered with numerous flower buds.
When does chicory bloom?
This plant is a summer bloomer through and through.
- Flowering time starts aroundJune
- lastsuntil September
- if the weather is good also until October
- each flower only opens for one day
- remains open from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Plants are not machines. Chicory species, both wild and cultivated, have also been seen with open flowers at other times of the day.
What exactly do chicory flowers look like?
The flowers are typical of the large Asteraceae family. In addition to chicory, it also includes the chicory species radicchio and root chicory as well as the wild form common chicory, also simply called chicory. These are the other characteristics of the sky blue flowers of a chicory that is allowed to bloom:
- 3 to 5 cm diameter
- there are up to five of them on the stem (except at the tip)
- sitting or short-stemmed
- consist only ofray flowers
- have two-row head cover
Are chicory flowers bee-friendly?
Yes, the flowers of chicory, and also the common chicory, also known as common chicory, are considered bee-friendly. They haveNectar and pollen to offer the insects.
Are chicory flowers edible?
The flowers of chicory are edible. Because of their steel blue color, they are mainly used asdecoration for salads. To do this, the individual tongue leaves are plucked off and scattered.
Why don't you see blooming chicory in the garden?
The chicory does not bloom in the garden because theharvest time is before the flowering time. The roots, which grew strongly in the first year and are enriched with sugar compounds, have to be removed from the bed in order to sprout the coveted yellow buds in the dark cellar in winter. Only then does the actual chicory season begin. Only when seeds are to be harvested for sowing will it remain standing for another year and be allowed to bloom.
Tip
Common chicory flowers are also edible
You don't grow chicory or want to harvest all the roots in the first year? Then on your next summer walk in nature, see if you can spot the wild form, the common chicory. Its flowers are also edible and can be used as a blue food decoration.
