When to plant Witloof in Subtropical Australia
Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.
Sow witloof chicory direct from September to November, setting seed 5 mm deep in deep, well-worked soil. This is the chicory grown for forced winter chicons, and it needs the full cycle: roots germinate in 7–14 days and take a long 120–150 days to mature before you lift them for forcing. Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart in rows about 30 cm wide. In subtropical gardens around Brisbane and the Gold Coast, spring sowing gives the roots the long season they need, then you force them indoors in the cooler months for pale, sweet hearts.
Sowing calendar — subtropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to November.
Growing notes
Witloof is a two-stage crop, and understanding that saves a lot of frustration. In stage one you grow a large parsnip-like taproot over spring and summer; in stage two you lift the roots, trim the tops, and force them in the dark to produce the blanched chicon.
The biggest failure in the subtropics is skipping the forcing stage and expecting a heart to form in the ground. It will not. Left in the bed the plant makes a mass of bitter green leaves and eventually bolts in the heat and humidity around the Sunshine Coast.
To force well:
- Lift mature roots in autumn, cut the leaves to about 2–3 cm above the crown, and pack the roots upright in a bucket of damp sand or mix.
- Keep them in complete darkness at around 10–15°C; any stray light makes the chicon green and bitter.
- Chicons are ready in three to four weeks.
Deep, loose soil is essential in stage one, since forked or stunted roots force poorly. Keep water up during the hot summer so the roots swell evenly rather than turning woody.
Witloof at a glance
| Sowing depth | 5 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 20-25 cm |
| Row spacing | 30 cm |
| Germination | 7-14 days |
| Days to maturity | 120-150 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Sow Direct |
Common questions
- How do you force witloof chicory?
- Lift the mature roots in autumn, trim the leaves to 2–3 cm, and pack them upright in damp sand in complete darkness at 10–15°C. In three to four weeks each root pushes up a pale, tight chicon. Any light makes them green and bitter.
- Can I grow witloof in Brisbane?
- Yes, if you treat it as a two-stage crop. Sow in spring so the roots have the full 120–150 days to size up, then force them indoors over the cooler months. The subtropics do not force chicons in the ground on their own.
- Why is my witloof bitter and leafy?
- That usually means it was left in the bed instead of being lifted and forced. In the ground the plant makes coarse green leaves and bolts in the heat. The sweet blanched heart only forms during dark forcing.
- What soil does witloof need?
- Deep, loose, well-worked soil free of stones. The long taproot forks and stunts in shallow or compacted ground, and forked roots force poorly. Dig deeply and avoid fresh manure before sowing.
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