What are the precautions for growing red chicory?

1. Choose a site with loose soil and a relatively high organic matter content for planting. During the growing process, apply plenty of materials such as straw and cow manure to make the soil fertile, which is beneficial to the growth of red chicory.

2. The planting spacing is also very important. Planting too densely or too sparsely will both affect the growth of red chicory. Generally, a spacing of about 30 cm is better. When transplanting, the soil should be kept moist; you can choose to water three days in advance.

3. To help the leaves grow better, you must fertilize at intervals. Nitrogen fertilizer and urea are essential, and pest and weed control must also be done properly. It is best to fertilize about once every eight days and check the growth conditions.

That is all for today. Regarding the planting time and the precautions for planting, growing anything is not easy and requires dedication. Finally, I hope everyone can grow delicious red chicory.

The planting time for red chicory

When planting red chicory, try to choose spring and autumn for planting. In winter, the temperature is low, red chicory grows slowly, and due to the influence of temperature, the heads formed are smaller and the yield is low. In summer, on the other hand, the temperature is too high, which causes the color of the leaf heads to be less pure. And if you want to provide a suitable temperature for growing red chicory, you also need to build a shed at the planting site to shade it from sunlight or block wind and cold.

Now do you all understand the sowing time for red chicory? Growing red chicory is not just about mastering the planting time. Next, let me talk about what other precautions there are for growing red chicory.

The planting methods for red chicory

1. Land preparation, fertilization and ridging

Choose land with loose soil, fertile soil, convenient drainage and irrigation, and where water does not easily accumulate. After choosing the land, deep plow it, apply base fertilizer and form ridges.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Sowing in summer is more suitable. The sowing period is generally in mid-to-late June. If it is too early, it is prone to bolting; if it is too late, it is not conducive to head formation and the yield is low. Use the plug tray method to raise seedlings. Mix the nutrient soil evenly and fill the trays, water thoroughly, then sow by dibbling, cover with soil and film. When the seedlings emerge, remove the film in time and carry out routine management during the seedling stage.

3. Transplanting and field management after transplanting

Seedlings can be transplanted when they have 5 leaves. The transplanting spacing between plants and rows varies by variety, so analyze the specific situation case by case. During the head-forming stage, strengthen water management, keep the soil moist, and avoid both drying out and waterlogging. In the late head-forming stage, control irrigation to prevent head splitting and to prevent inducing soft rot.

4. Pest and disease control

For heading red chicory, attention should be paid during the seedling stage to controlling whiteflies and aphids; during the head-forming stage, prevent the occurrence of soft rot. In addition, keep the soil loose, and do not plant in places with relatively high temperatures, otherwise red chicory may develop tipburn.

5. Harvest

Early-maturing varieties are generally harvested 60 days after transplanting, and mid-to-late-maturing varieties 80 days, once the leaf heads are firm. If harvested too early, the leaf heads are relatively loose, fail to meet commercial requirements, and the yield is affected; if harvested too late, the heads rot and lose their marketability. At harvest, simply cut off the leaf head with a knife, leave 1-2 outer leaves, put them in a basket and stack them neatly for storage or sale.

6. Storage

Wrap each leaf head in paper and put them in a basket, then place in a cold storage warehouse. At a temperature of 0-2°C and a relative humidity of 90%-100%, they can be stored for 1-2 months. During storage, check and clean them once every half month, and promptly remove rotten leaves and rotten heads.

The market price of red chicory is not cheap. If the climate and soil where you are are suitable, you can grow a small amount in your own vegetable garden, and it is completely fine to supply only your own household for eating. Friends who like to eat red chicory, hurry up and take action!