When to plant Chicory in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow chicory direct across a long window, from February to June and again from August to November, setting seed 5 mm deep where it is to grow. Germination is quick at 7–14 days, and plants mature in 85–100 days. Thin to 20–30 cm apart, with 30–40 cm between rows. Chicory is hardy and thrives in the cool climates of Orange, Armidale and Canberra, where autumn and winter sowings give the bitter, crisp leaves and forcing roots at their best. Its long sowing span makes it a dependable filler for beds through the cooler two-thirds of the year.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to June and August to November.

Growing notes

Chicory is a hardy, cool-season crop that suits this zone well, and its bitterness is actually milder in cool weather, which is why autumn and winter sowings around Ballarat and Armidale taste better than summer ones. The generous February-to-June and August-to-November windows let you keep beds productive through most of the year.

The main pitfall is excessive bitterness from heat and stress. Plants sown into hot, dry conditions or left short of water turn harsh and can bolt to a tall flower stalk before you get a decent head. Sow in the cooler months, keep the soil evenly moist, and harvest before hot weather sets in for the mildest leaves.

For heading types like radicchio, the tight red heart often forms in response to cooling weather, so an autumn sowing that hearts up in the cold is ideal. For root and forcing chicory, grow the plants through the season, lift the roots in late autumn, and force them in the dark indoors to produce pale, tender chicons over winter.

Chicory has few serious pests, though slugs and snails favour the young seedlings in cool, damp conditions, so protect them early. The deep taproot makes established plants fairly drought hardy, but consistent moisture is still the key to keeping the leaves crisp rather than tough.

Chicory at a glance

Common questions

Why is my chicory so bitter?

Chicory turns harshly bitter when grown in heat or short of water. It is naturally milder in cool weather, so sow it in the cooler months, keep the soil evenly moist, and harvest before hot spells for a gentler flavour.

When should I sow chicory in a cool climate?

Chicory has a long window in cool districts, from February to June and again from August to November. Autumn and winter sowings suit it best, giving crisp, milder leaves and, for heading types, hearts that firm up in the cold.

How do you force chicory for chicons?

Grow root or forcing chicory through the season, then lift the roots in late autumn. Trim the tops, pack the roots into a container in the dark somewhere cool, and they push up pale, tender chicons over winter. Cool climates suit this well.

Does chicory survive frost?

Yes, chicory is hardy and copes with the frosts of Orange, Armidale and Canberra. Heading and leaf types stand through cold weather, and the cold actually improves their flavour, making it a reliable cool-season crop.

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