How to Select Seeds for Bitter Chicory? A Full Guide to Seedling Raising Methods

Bitter chicory is an annual herbaceous plant that is both medicinal and edible, commonly known among the people as bitter greens. It tastes slightly bitter and is bright green in color, and can be stir-fried or served cold. Because bitter chicory has high nutritional value and is an excellent dish for clearing heat and reducing internal fire, it has become a very popular vegetable in recent years. So when growing bitter chicory, how should you select seeds and raise seedlings? Let's take a look together.

How to select seeds for bitter chicory?

Before growing bitter chicory, you first need to select the seeds, and it is best to choose some superior varieties, as this ensures both yield and quality. You can also choose some seeds that matured last year, but if you do not have suitable seeds, you can also buy them from a seed shop, taking care that they have inspection and certification marks. When selecting seeds, try to choose seeds with high yield and a short maturation period. After selecting the seeds, you should also choose superior varieties suited to local market demand.

What are the seedling raising methods?

1. Sowing management

Bitter chicory is best sown in spring or autumn. Because the seeds are small, broadcasting is generally used for sowing. After the seeds are sown, cover them with a layer of fine soil, not too deep, kept within 0.5-1cm.

2. Seed germination

One week after sowing, under conditions of sufficient temperature and nutrients, the bitter chicory seeds will germinate quickly. During germination, water once as well.

3. Field thinning

After the seeds germinate and the seedlings grow to about 5cm, field thinning can be carried out. If planting is relatively dense, transplant some of the weaker seedlings to other places for growing. If planting is relatively sparse, fill in the gaps promptly, and if weeds are found around the seedlings, pull them out promptly. Before thinning, be sure to water to avoid damaging the seedling roots during thinning.

4. Water and fertilizer management

At the seedling stage, it is appropriate to keep the soil alternately dry and moist; do not water too much, so as to avoid leggy seedlings, and do not let it get too dry, which would cause the seedlings to age. During the seedling growth period, also keep the soil moist. If water is insufficient, bitter chicory will taste more bitter and have a poorer texture. As for fertilizer, provided enough base fertilizer has been applied, no additional topdressing is needed during the growth period, but to improve vegetable quality, foliar topdressing can be carried out regularly.

Overall, although bitter chicory is bitter, its nutritional value is indeed very high. Of course, bitter chicory is also a very easy vegetable to grow, and it also has a quick harvest and saves space, so it is loved by many home gardeners.

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