Chicory Planting Guide

May

May is for chicory

chicory rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–85

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water chicory
About an inch of water a week keeps chicory happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put chicory
South-facing beds are ideal for chicory. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant chicory. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me chicory timing for my zone →

Chicory is a hardy perennial grown for its bitter leaves and roots. The roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute, and the leaves add complexity to salads.

Cichorium intybus · Vegetable · Asteraceae family · 60–85 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Chicory Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Chicory?

Zone Compatibility for Chicory Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jul 17 – Aug 28
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jul 12 – Aug 23
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jul 8 – Aug 19
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jul 3 – Aug 14
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jun 27 – Aug 8
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Jun 20 – Aug 1
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jun 12 – Jul 24
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	Jun 5 – Jul 17
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	May 27 – Jul 8
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	May 20 – Jul 1
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	May 10 – Jun 21
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Apr 29 – Jun 10
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Apr 14 – May 26
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Mar 29 – May 10
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 5 – Apr 16
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 5 – Apr 16

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Chicory is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Chicory

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Chicory

Chicory matures in just 60–85 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Chicory

✅ Good Companions

Carrots Lettuce Onion

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Chicory

Sow seeds directly in spring. Thin plants to 8-12 inches apart. For forcing, dig roots in fall and replant in a dark, cool area to produce blanched chicons.

Saving Chicory Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Chicory by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Chicory?

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) takes 60 to 85 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Chicory grow in?

Chicory can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Chicory need?

Growing Chicory requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.