About Chicory
The chicory plants are growing very dense. A few plants were thinned out to prevent hiding slugs and snails. Happy soils protect and provide for the plants, while the happy plants feed on and protect the soil. Our chicory has survived the last few years in pots and in the ground a couple of years ago. They survived the water blues and drought, albeit a little shrivelled during the summer. They bounced back when the rains started and went without water for weeks.
The chocory roots are dug up a few plants for planting. The long roots anchor the topsoil, facilitating aeration, hosting commensals and preventing denudation. The plant leaf and root size is proportional to the topsoil and humus layer. The size increases, providing more ground cover to protect microbes.
Growing Chicory
The chicory roots can be used to grow more plants, or you can plant seeds. The chicory roots help keep the soil healthy and anchor it in place. As the plant grows, it provides more ground cover and protects microbes.
To grow chicory, take care of the soil and thin out the clumps of plants to avoid snails and slugs. Chicory can survive in pots and the ground, even through dry periods, but may get smaller during the summer.
Uses of Chicory
Tender chicory leaves are used in salads and on sandwiches. Alternatively, they can also be stir-fried or cooked with groundnut paste. The leaves contain high amounts of vitamin A and β-carotene. They also contain vitamins K, C, and B and trace minerals. The plant can also supplement livestock feeds, while others use chicory in herbal remedies.
Chicory roots can be turned into a hot drink. The process involves washing, peeling, drying, and roasting the roots. After that, you blend or crush the roots and steep them in hot water. This drink is suitable for people who can’t drink coffee. Yesterday’s harvested chicory roots were dried, roasted, boiled, and strained. You can add milk, coffee creamer, sugar, or sweetener. This same product is blended with coffee in Ricoffee. The roots are full of nutrients like folate, calcium, manganese, phosphorus and potassium.
