Chicory Early Season

Chicory varieties for the early season

The chicory witloof varieties and the red chicory variety Céralie for use in the early season are shown below. These varieties need a growth period of 130-150 days in the field. Moreover, after lifting, these varieties should be left to mature for a few weeks during the chicory root cold storage. In the forcing period, these varieties need a somewhat higher temperature (18-20°C) so that they can form a firm head. The forcing temperature for the red chicory variety Ceralie is somewhat lower than the witloof chicory varieties in the same period. By varying the sowing date, and so the harvest date of the roots, these early season varieties can cover approximately the first 3-4 months of the forcing-season.

Chicory witloof Helios

Helios (OK-691) is a variety for the early forcing period. Helios requires a soil that is not too rich and produces a high uniform root yield. Helios has about 150 growing days and  after harvesting the roots a cooling period of at least 3-4  weeks is required, Then the roots can be planted and forced for up to 3 months.

Shiny and productive

Helios produces slightly longer heads with glossy leaves that extend to the tip of the head. The specific weight is high and this makes Helios a productive variety. Helios also gives a good result on the finer roots and then gives a high quality product. The recommended forcing temperature is lower than Darling’s in the same period.

Click on the icon to download the Helios leaflet.

Key figures for Helios witloof chicory
Forcing periodEarly seasonBeginning mid-season
Sowing period *normalnormal - late
Quantity of seed/ha280-300.000290-310.000
Optimum number of plants/ha250-260.000260-280.000
Growing days150150
Cold storage period (roots)3-6 weeks1 – 3 months
Cold storage temperature (roots)0,0 °C.0.0 / -1.0 °C.
The above figures should be interpreted as trends and depend on regional growing and operating conditions.
* The minimum 24-hour temperature for sowing is 12 °C. Avoid night frost.

Chicosem is part of the Chico-group. Chicosem supplies chicory witloof seeds to professional chicory growers around the world.

CONTACT DETAILS

    Julianastraat 4A
6065AM Montfort
   +31 (0) 475 549 004
   info@chicosem.nl
   Kvk: 14098765

PARTNERS

Chicosem is part of the Chico-group. Chicosem supplies chicory witloof seeds to professional chicory growers around the world.

CONTACT DETAILS

    Julianastraat 4A
6065AM Montfort
   +31 (0) 475 549 004
   info@chicosem.nl
   Kvk: 14098765

PARTNERS