If planting in summer, choose a slightly shaded spot as chicory prefers a cooler climate (or plant it between rows of taller veg, like broad beans etc)
If planting in autumn, choose a spot that gets maximum sunlight
Plant in raised beds/traditional veg patch, or in pots - 1 plant to a 30cm pot, or you could plant 5 or 6 to a grow bag
Plant 30cm apart
Growing Tips:
Keep it well watered during the summer
Mulching will really help during hot, dry spells
If you feel the plant looks weary during the growing season, a nitrogen-rich liquid feed will normally perk them up quite quickly
Problems & Pests:
Slugsand Snails can sometimes bother chicory, especially while the plants are still fairly young
Bolting may be a problem during hot summer months - try to keep plants cool with frequent watering, apply a mulch and if possible give them a bit of shade.
Not turning red - chicory will normally not turn red until it hits colder temperatures in late autumn/winter
Harvesting/Storing:
Pick off the looser, outer leaves as you want for salads etc
Once the centre of the plant has formed a firm heart, you can cut the whole thing off using a sharp knife a few cm above soil level - leave a bit of stump in the ground. This could be any time between late September and March/April the following year, depending on when you planted it.
Chicory will normally re-sprout if you leave the stump in the ground after harvesting. Worth a try!
