Chicory is an ancient, wonderful perennial forage vegetable devolped in France and New Zealand which gives excellent summer production and very high feed value. Its deep tap root makes it very drought tolerant. It looks like a giant dandelion, but leafier. Feedback from a farmer in Michigan told us that his chicory provided feed for his sheep during a summer drought when all else was brown. Chicory is fantastic for fattening lambs and steers. It is excellent feed for all classes of livestock, ratites, and wildlife. Chicory can be a very valuable addition to most farms if managed properly.
The first forage chicory, New Zealand’s Grasslands Puna chicory, was introduced to the USA in 1990. Since then thousands of pounds of Puna chicory have been sold. It has become the standard. A new variety is now available through Barenbrug. It is Forage Feast Chicory from France and is known for its profuse leaves and bolt resistance. Forage Feast would be the choice for ideal conditions of fertility and moisture, while Puna would fare better under less ideal conditions.
Chicory should be planted in the spring in all areas except the hot South where fall planting is best. It should be planted, not broadcast like clover, for maximum take. It can be frost seeded in the cold winter areas but we don’t believe this is cost effective considering the high cost of seed. Drilling at 1/4 to 3/8 inch depth on a 6 or 7 inch width drill band is ideal as the mature plants need space. No-till planting also works especially well if preceded by an herbicide to kill or burn back the existing sod. Broadcast seeding, followed by harrowing and cultipacking is effective if the seed is uniformly broadcast. Seed 4 lb/acre. Keep in mind that chicory is a root vegetable (some older plants have roots sugar beet sized) and needs at least 80-90 days after planting to develop its life sustaining root before being subjected to having its leaves harvested. If you violate this rule you may lose your new plants.
With few exceptions, the best method of using chicory in a livestock grazing application is to establish it as a monoculture, planted in a solid block or strip. On dairies, a paddock close to the milk parlor where the cows can be given a daily two hour ration in the morning and then walk to a higher fiber grass diet is ideal. An alternative, applicable for all livestock, is to plant a strip along the edge of a field and across multiple paddocks. This allows the livestock to graze chicory in each paddock. Planting a monoculture greatly simplifies management. It can be fertilized separately and mowed separately. When chicory puts up a seed head (bolts), as it will, the cows refuse to eat these stalky shoots. They must be mowed to make the plant vegetative again. If the chicory is broadcast throughout the field, the whole field in this case would need mowing which would waste the grass crop. In a hay or silage system, chicory can be included as part of the planting mix at 1 to 1.5 lbs. per acre as the crop is totally harvested at regular intervals.
Previous chapter:> Alfalfa
Next chapter:> Annual Ryegrass