The cultivation technique of health vegetable chicory
August 08 02:17:58, 2025
Chicory is a vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and diseases during its growth cycle, making it an environmentally friendly crop. In most cases, no pesticides are used during the root cultivation phase. Moreover, in the softening process, neither pesticides nor fertilizers are applied, ensuring the final product is safe and healthy. This makes chicory a true green food, often referred to as a health vegetable of the 21st century.
**First, Seed Cultivation**
1. **Site Preparation**
Chicory roots grow underground and can reach up to 30 cm in length and 5 cm in thickness. To ensure proper root development, the soil should be deeply tilled to a depth of 25–30 cm before planting. Apply basic fertilizer along the planting rows: 5 cubic meters of high-quality farmyard manure per 667 square meters (1 mu), 100 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, and 25 kg of potassium sulfate.
2. **Seed Sowing**
Sowing chicory seeds too early or too late can lead to weak root development. It’s best to sow in early August, though some plants may experience convulsions, which need to be removed promptly. The seeds are small, so use about 200 grams per 667 square meters. While seedlings can be transplanted, it's important to ensure they have at least six leaves. Transplanting after this point may result in a misshapen root, resembling a chicken’s leg with multiple branches, which is not ideal for softening cultivation.
3. **Field Management**
- After sowing, water regularly to keep the soil moist. Water from the furrows between the rows to ensure even moisture. If the soil dries out, the seeds may not germinate properly. Seedlings usually emerge within three days. Keep the soil consistently damp and remove any weak seedlings promptly. Once the seedlings have six leaves, avoid further transplanting.
- Chicory has strong vitality, and by the second half of the growing season, the plants will grow vigorously. Combine weeding with cultivation, spacing the plants 20 cm apart. Plant 9,000 seedlings per 667 square meters. After transplanting, apply 10 kg of urea per 667 square meters, and avoid further nitrogen top-dressing.
- By mid-October, the plants enter their peak growth stage. At this time, remove any convulsive plants and apply 10 kg of potassium sulfate per 667 square meters along with watering.
4. **Harvesting the Roots**
Chicory roots are cold-tolerant and can withstand light frost. Before freezing, the roots are manually harvested. Try not to cut the leaves; instead, trim them 1 cm above the growing point. Stack the roots in layers 10 cm thick and dry them for three days. Cover them with straw at night and plastic sheeting if rain or snow is expected.
5. **Storage of Roots**
After drying, place the roots in breathable woven bags and store them in a trench 1.5 meters wide and 80 cm deep. You can stack two layers of bags and shape the trench into a bow to prevent snow from entering. Insert corn stalks every 2 meters in the middle of the trench to create air vents.
**Second, Softening Cultivation**
Softening cultivation involves growing chicory roots in a dark, humid environment with controlled temperatures to encourage the formation of a leaf ball, similar to garlic bulbs.
1. **Root Treatment**
Cut off the root tips and remove small buds from the base of the leaves. Leave only the central bud to promote the development of a single, large leaf ball.
2. **Planting in Greenhouses**
Create 1.5-meter-wide raised beds in a north-south direction, and till the soil to a depth of 35 cm. Level the surface, water it, and plant the roots 5 cm apart. Place the roots slightly above ground level and cover them with a small arch structure. Use double black plastic film to block all light inside the shed. In basements or indoor settings, bury the roots in sand, keeping the buds just above the surface. Ensure the rows are spaced 5 cm apart and maintain darkness.
3. **Softening Period Management**
The ideal temperature for softening is between 18–20°C. Too low or too high temperatures can affect quality. The softening process takes about 20 days. To maintain a steady supply, sow seeds daily and harvest every 20 days. This ensures continuous availability without overstocking.
To increase temperature, you can use heating methods in greenhouses or basements, but avoid letting coal ash fall on the leaves. Ensure proper ventilation to remove fumes, especially during midday when cooling effects are minimized.
4. **Harvesting the Leaf Balls**
Harvest the leaf balls when they reach 20 cm in length and weigh around 250 grams. Cut them at the base and sell them, leaving the roots in the soil for future cycles. This method results in clean, easy-to-handle produce but may waste some nutrients in the roots.
Alternatively, wait until the leaf ball fully develops. When the surrounding leaves reach about 15 cm in length, carefully pluck them along with the long pods, allowing the roots to be fully utilized. This method maximizes nutrient use but requires more labor and may result in less attractive produce.