GrowSabzHow to grow chicory in pots
Also called Witloof, Radicchio, Endive (some varieties), Blue Daisy · Cichorium intybus
کاسنی
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 1.3 Levery 3 days, 15 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 15 L25 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 30–60days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Chicory keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 30, and the plant then crops for roughly 60 more days — but only if you keep picking. Letting it run to flower is what ends the supply.
Short answer
Grow chicory in a 15 litre container at least 25 cm deep, watering about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 30–60 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does chicory need?
15 litres and 25 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 15 L | 25 cm | Ensure good drainage and sufficient depth for taproot development. |
| Grow bag | 15 L | 25 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 30 cm | Space plants adequately for air circulation and growth. |
| Raised bed | 20 L | 25 cm | Excellent for controlling soil quality and drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water chicory?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 4 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Base watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- bitter taste in leaves
- stunted growth
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- soft stems
- root rot
Avoid: extreme dryness; waterlogging; overhead watering in humid conditions.
Climate
Can you grow chicory where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 7 °C — best at 20 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for chicory? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Chicory growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for chicory
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why chicory fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 15 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Chicory wants about 700 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Fennel
Fennel is known to inhibit the growth of many plants, including chicory, due to chemicals released from its roots.
Companions
What to plant with chicory
Good neighbours
Carrots help loosen the soil, which benefits chicory's root development, especially for root chicory varieties.
Similar to carrots, radishes help break up compacted soil, improving aeration and drainage for chicory roots.
Legumes like beans fix nitrogen in the soil, providing a natural nutrient boost for chicory's leafy growth.
Marigolds are known to deter nematodes and other soil-borne pests that can harm chicory roots.
Chicory and lettuce have similar growing requirements and can be interplanted to maximize garden space.
Keep apart from
Fennel is known to inhibit the growth of many plants, including chicory, due to chemicals released from its roots.
Members of the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, kale) can compete with chicory for nutrients and attract similar pests.
Potatoes can share certain diseases with chicory, increasing the risk of infection for both plants.
Problems
Chicory pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. Can transmit viruses.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Chew irregular holes in leaves, especially on young plants. Active in damp, cool conditions, leaving silvery slime trails.
Leaf Miners humidity any · temp 18-28
Larvae tunnel between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, creating winding white or translucent trails. Reduces photosynthetic capacity.
Downy Mildew humidity >85% · temp 10-20
Yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface, with fuzzy gray or purplish mold on the underside. Thrives in cool, wet conditions.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery patches on leaves and stems. Can stunt growth and reduce yield. Favors dry conditions with high humidity at night.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil. Roots become soft and brown, leading to wilting and plant death.
Bolting humidity any · temp >25
Premature flowering and seed stalk development, often triggered by heat stress or inconsistent watering. Makes leaves bitter.
Harvest
When to harvest chicory
First picking falls between day 30 and day 60, and the plant then keeps producing for about 60 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Leaves are tender and 6-12 inches tall (for greens)
- Roots are mature (for root chicory, typically 90-120 days)
How much to expect
Storing it: Fresh greens: Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to a week. Roots: Store in a cool, dark, humid place (like a root cellar) for several months, or blanch and freeze.
Questions
Chicory: common questions
How long does chicory take to grow?
About 75 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 30 and day 60. It then keeps producing for roughly 60 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does chicory need?
At least 15 litres and 25 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 20 litres of soil and 25 cm of depth.
How often should I water chicory?
About 700 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 4 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does chicory need?
It does best between 10 °C and 24 °C and survives from -5 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 7 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow chicory in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when chicory is ready to harvest?
Leaves are tender and 6-12 inches tall (for greens); Roots are mature (for root chicory, typically 90-120 days). Once picked: fresh greens: refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to a week. roots: store in a cool, dark, humid place (like a root cellar) for several months, or blanch and freeze.
How much does one chicory plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2.5 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.