endive
Gummy Candy,Gummy Worms,Sweet Candy,Soft Candy Montreal Shantou Food Co., Ltd , https://www.montrealsnack.com
Chicory is a perennial herb belonging to the genus *Cichorium*, originally developed in New Zealand during the early 1980s as a new forage crop. It was officially recognized as a new variety by the National Pasture Feed Variety Approval Committee on November 18, 1997. The plant typically reaches a rosette height of around 40 cm during the leafy stage and grows up to 170 cm when flowering, with some varieties reaching 200 cm. Its stems are erect, hollow, and ribbed, often branching out. The basal leaves are pinnately divided or undivided, with toothed edges and sparse hair, measuring between 10 to 40 cm in length and 5 to 8 cm in width. Cauline leaves are smaller, lance-shaped, and appear singly or in clusters at the leaf axils. The flowers are tongue-shaped and blue, while the seeds are wedge-shaped, with a 1000-seed weight ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 grams.
Chicory is known for its wide adaptability, fast growth, high palatability, and diverse uses—ranging from forage to medicinal and honey production. It has a long lifespan and can be cultivated continuously for 5 to 8 years after one planting. It also exhibits good resistance to water, fertilizer, and saline-alkali conditions. Under favorable growing conditions, it produces a large amount of biomass. In Taiyuan, it can be harvested three times per year, yielding approximately 11,000 kg of fresh forage per mu, equivalent to 1,700 kg of hay. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, it can be cut 4 to 5 times annually, producing up to 15,000 kg of fresh grass per mu, or about 2,200 kg of hay.
Nutritionally, chicory leaves are tender, juicy, and rich in nutrients. The crude protein content in the foliage averages 17%, with a yield of about 250 kg per mu. During the early flowering stage, it contains 14.73% crude protein, 2.1% crude fat, and 30.6% crude fiber. It is also rich in essential amino acids, with higher levels in the leaf phloem than in alfalfa meal. Vitamins, carotene, and calcium are abundant, making it highly palatable and suitable for a wide range of livestock, including cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits.
For cultivation, chicory can be sown in spring or autumn. The recommended seed spacing is 35–40 cm, with a sowing rate of 0.1–0.2 kg per mu and a depth of 2–3 cm. Due to the small size of the seeds, the soil must be finely prepared, and organic fertilizer (2,500–3,000 kg per mu) should be applied. Mixing seeds with sand before sowing helps ensure even distribution. Weeds should be controlled during the seedling stage, and proper watering and fertilization are essential throughout the growing season. Chicory has been widely promoted across several provinces in China, including Shanxi, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Hainan, Guangdong, Henan, Hebei, Ningxia, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, and Shandong.
One representative variety is *Coronilla viria* L., also known as "changeable crown." Native to southern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, North America, Western Asia, and northern Africa, it was introduced to China in the 1970s and thrives well in regions like Nanjing, Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Liaoning. This perennial herb features thick roots, well-developed lateral roots, and horizontal root systems that make it aggressive and hardy. The stems and pods can grow up to 90–150 cm long, with odd-pinnate compound leaves containing 11–21 leaflets. The umbel inflorescence consists of 14 pink florets arranged in a ring, resembling a crown. The fruits are slender, finger-like, and split into segments upon maturity, each containing a single seed. The seeds are elongated and brownish-red.
This species prefers warm and dry climates, with an average annual temperature of around 10°C and annual rainfall of 400–600 mm. It is cold and drought-resistant but does not tolerate waterlogging. It can grow in various soils, though it thrives best in slightly acidic conditions (pH around 6).
For cultivation, the seeds are small and have a high percentage of hard seeds (70–80%), so pre-treatment is necessary before sowing. Soil preparation should be thorough, and moisture retention is important for successful germination. Seedlings grow slowly, so timely weeding is crucial. Once established, weeds can be effectively controlled. Sowing can be done in spring, summer, or autumn, using drilling or hole sowing methods. The recommended sowing rate is 0.3–0.5 kg per acre. Root buds can also be used for propagation by dividing them into sections with 3–5 buds and planting them in soil, which results in a high survival rate. The plant can be harvested 2–3 times per year, yielding about 2,500 kg of fresh forage per mu. Due to its long flowering period and uneven seed maturation, timely harvesting is essential to prevent seed loss.
Economically, chicory is valuable due to its nutritional profile. At the flowering stage, it contains 19.8% crude protein, 2.9% crude fat, 21.2% crude fiber, 46.2% nitrogen-free extract, and 9.8% crude ash. It also provides 1.6% calcium and 0.5% phosphorus. Although the tender stems and leaves are highly palatable, the presence of β-nitropropionic acid makes it unsuitable for large-scale feeding of monogastric animals like poultry. However, ruminants can safely consume it as their gut microbes break down the toxic compound.
Additionally, chicory’s extensive root system and rhizome buds help prevent soil erosion and improve water conservation. Its long flowering period also makes it an excellent source of nectar for bees, contributing to honey production. Overall, chicory is a versatile and resilient plant with significant agricultural and ecological value.