When to plant Witloof in Arid Australia

Arid zone — applies to Alice Springs, Mildura, Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie, Port Augusta and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Subtropical · Tropical.

Sow witloof (Belgian endive chicory) direct from June to September, dropping seed 5 mm deep so the roots grow through the cooler part of the arid year. Germination takes 7–14 days, and the roots need a long 120–150 days to size up before you lift and force them. Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart in rows 30 cm wide. In Alice Springs and Mildura the winter sowing window matters: witloof wants to build big taproots in mild weather, not battle the 40°C summer heat that would send it straight to seed.

Sowing calendar — arid zone

Green months are your sowing window: June to September.

Growing notes

Witloof is a two-stage crop and that catches out first-timers. You are not growing it for summer leaves; you are growing fat parsnip-like roots over the cool season, then digging them, trimming the tops, and forcing them in the dark to produce the pale, tight chicons you actually eat.

In the arid zone the winter sowing keeps roots growing steadily while nights are cold and days mild. The main failure mode is bolting: sow too early into lingering summer heat, or let the crop suffer drought stress, and plants run to flower and the roots stay thin and useless. Deep, even watering and a good mulch keep the roots swelling. Sandy desert soils drain fast, so do not let them dry between waterings.

When the roots are lifted in late autumn or early winter, cut the foliage back to about 3 cm, pot the roots upright in buckets of moist sand, and keep them in a dark cupboard or covered box at around 12–18°C. The chicons develop over three to five weeks. In Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie a garage or shed makes a good forcing spot through winter. Harvest the chicon when it is firm and about 15 cm tall.

Witloof at a glance

Common questions

When should I sow witloof in an arid climate?

Sow direct from June to September so the roots develop through the cool desert winter. This avoids the 40°C summer heat that causes bolting. The roots need 120–150 days before they are lifted for forcing.

Why did my witloof bolt instead of forming good roots?

Bolting is usually caused by heat or drought stress. Sowing into lingering summer warmth or letting the plants dry out repeatedly triggers flowering and leaves the roots thin. Keep to the winter window and water deeply and evenly.

How do you force witloof chicons?

Lift the roots after 120–150 days, trim the tops to about 3 cm, and pot them upright in moist sand in a dark container at 12–18°C. The pale chicons develop over three to five weeks. A dark shed or garage works well in winter.

Can you grow witloof in Alice Springs?

Yes, if you sow in the cooler months from June to September and irrigate consistently. The roots grow well through the mild desert winter, and forcing is easy in a dark shed. Avoid summer sowings, which bolt in the heat.

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