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chicory seeds for planting
Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory Seeds For Planting / Italian Dandelion (Cichorium intybus)

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500 Seeds Per Pack

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Mix and match any product in our store that displays the following icons to receive volume discounts for each item.

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Chicory has light periwinkle-colored flowers that are similarly shaped to daisies. The blossoms are about .75 to 1.5 inches across, and the petals have a delicately toothed outer edge. The plant itself has tough, woody, hairy stems. The long, narrow, serrated leaves are a dusty green. If you break or cut the chicory plant, it will 'bleed' out a milky, bitter sap.


Chicory plants have a wide range of growth size, depending on growing conditions, and can be anywhere from 10 inches to over 3 feet tall. The stems on which the flowers grow can be a couple of feet taller yet, up to 5 feet.


GROWTH


Chicory is a hardy perennial herb native to Europe (probably France and Italy) or India. It is one of the earliest documented plants and has been used all the way back to ancient Egyptian times (and possibly farther, but documentation from that long ago is sparse), so it is difficult to pin down the exact area from which it originated. It is extremely useful, so it spread rapidly as far as people could carry the seeds. It has naturalized all over the United States, Eurasia, Africa and Australia.


In the wild, chicory is often found on roadsides or in scrubland, though it prefers well-drained soil with lots of organic material. Because of its large taproot, it is drought-tolerant but prefers 1-2 inches of moisture a week. It is a cool-weather plant and does best if the temperature is around 75 or less, though it will grow even if it gets hotter than that.


It blooms for several months and will provide blue accents to your garden most of the summer and into the fall.


USES


Every part of the chicory plant has multiple uses. In every place to which it was brought, the people there developed new uses according to the needs of their area.


CHICORY ROOT


Chicory root is used as a coffee substitute, as well as an addition to coffee. The root is baked, roasted and ground, then prepared the same way as coffee. Coffee with chicory added is a popular regional drink in New Orleans, often served with beignets.


The popularity of chicory root as a coffee substitute rises during hard times or times when there are problems with normal distribution chains. It was used as a coffee substitute by French soldiers under Napoleon, American soldiers during the civil war, and throughout the Great Depression. People can harvest and prepare their own hot drinks with chicory root instead of having to go without, though chicory does not contain caffeine and may actually have slight sedative properties.


Chicory root contains a substance called inulin (about 20% of the root is inulin), which is sweet and starchy. It can be used as a prebiotic and as a source of fiber, and the properties that make it sweet seem not to cause reactions in diabetics.

Chicory Leaves and Flowers

The buds and young leaves can be used in salads. The leaves have a slightly bitter taste that makes chicory a favored flavor in certain Italian, Middle Eastern, Greek, and Albanian cooking. If you cook leaves briefly, then discard that water and continue from there, much of the bitterness will wash away with the first water.


Livestock can eat it and it has higher nutrient value than alfalfa, so it is often used for forage; forage-focused varieties are being developed, particularly in New Zealand. It has high digestibility for cows, sheep, goats, and other ruminants. The ground root is often considered to be very good for horses. It has an added benefit of decreasing internal parasites, as the entire plant has anti-parasitic properties and will help keep the animals free from intestinal worms.


MEDICINAL AND HEALTH USES


The entire plant contains volatile oils that are anti-parasitic and help get rid of intestinal worms. The oils are most concentrated in the root but the leaves and flowers also contain them.


Chicory, especially the blossoms, was used in Germany to make an all-purpose tonic. It has also been used to treat gallstones, intestinal issues, and sinus problems. A wash or poultice made from steeping the blossoms and leaves was used to treat wounds. In Afghanistan, an infusion from fresh chicory roots was used to treat malaria; later research showed that it does indeed have antimalarial properties. In India, the seeds are part of a traditional remedy for liver problems.


In Europe, it was used to treat minor digestive issues. The high inulin content means that chicory may help with constipation, bowel function, and possibly weight loss. It may also help improve calcium absorption, strengthening bones; research is still going on in that area, but rat studies are promising.

  • Type: Flower
  • Color: Blue
  • Height: 24" - 60" Tall
  • Width: 12" - 18" Spread
  • Season: Perennial
  • Zones: 3 to 9
  • Environment: Full sun
  • Uses: Flower beds, along walkways, borders or driveways. Used in medicine and in cooking.

Chicory is best established directly outdoors when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed. Begin by clearing the sowing area of all unwanted plant life. Distribute the seeds to the surface of the soil, covering them thinly with roughly 1/8"of topsoil. Allowing a bit of direct lighting will help the seeds germinate.

Chicory plants will thrive in an area that receives full sunlight for the majority of the day. Temperatures should be at least 65F to 70F for optimal growth. Although Italian Dandelion is not picky on soil conditions, it does prefer a moderate to fairly, well drained medium. Water the seeds daily, with a mist setting, until germination has occurred. Water less and less as plants mature.

Chicory seeds will begin to germinate in roughly 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants will grow quickly, maturing to a height of about 24 to 60 inches tall and spreading to a width of 12 to 18 inches wide. Chicory can add a splash of pale blue coloring to open fields & flower beds, while attracting an array of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees & honeybees.

Front Side

Seed packets by Seed Needs are beautifully illustrated and provide a colorful depiction of the variety inside. We provide the common name, as well as the scientific name, seed quantity and a few specs about the variety to be grown.


Back Side

Each packet contains full growing instructions on the reverse side. Specifications on sowing the seed, growing conditions such as sunlight and moisture preferences and germination and growth information can be found as well. We also provide a QR to scan for easy reordering.

  • Always Non-GMO / Untreated.
  • Stored in a temperature controlled facility that's free of moisture.
  • Always packaged for the current and the following growing seasons.
  • True to the varieties advertised.
  • 99% pure seed with no added fillers.

  • Always Non-GMO / Untreated.
  • Stored in a temperature controlled facility that's free of moisture.
  • Always packaged for the current and the following growing seasons.
  • True to the varieties advertised.
  • 99% pure seed with no added fillers.

Always fresh and intended for the current and following growing seasons. Seeds are packaged in water resistant / tear resistant packaging.

Heirlooms are varieties that have been purposely bred, selected and passed down from generation to generation. They are wholesome picks that will breed true to the parent seed every time.

Seed Needs never knowingly purchases treated seeds products. We also do not treat any of our seed products with substances such as neonicotinoid or thyram.

Flowers will attract all sorts of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees and ladybugs.



A SEED COMPANY ON A MISSION FOR CHANGE

Seed Needs has been providing gardeners with quality seed products since 2010 and has shipped millions of packets to happy customers all over the US. We offer flowers, herbs, vegetables, vines, wildflower blends, seed packet collections and seed packet favors.


With the success of our brand, we have kept our promise to continually donate to different organizations and personally sponsor children all over the globe each and every month. We grew our sponsorships from just 1 child to over 100 children worldwide in only a few years. We would like to sincerely thank all who support us because it wouldn't be possible without you!


Check out our charitable contributions!

St. Jude Children's Hospital | ASPCA | Our Kids

A SEED COMPANY ON A
MISSION FOR CHANGE

Seed Needs has been providing gardeners with quality seed products since 2010 and has shipped millions of packets to happy customers all over the US. We offer flowers, herbs, vegetables, vines, wildflower blends, seed packet collections and seed packet favors.


With the success of our brand, we have kept our promise to continually donate to different organizations and personally sponsor children all over the globe each and every month. We grew our sponsorships from just 1 child to over 100 children worldwide in only a few years. We would like to sincerely thank all who support us because it wouldn't be possible without you!


Check out our charitable contributions!

St. Jude Children's Hospital | ASPCA | Our Kids

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