What chicory varieties work best?

[j-bird]

I'm going to keep this simple because it obviously can get complicated.....

What specific varieties of chicory have worked best for you guys?

I am re-vamping some plots and may even plant a chicory only or chicory heavy plot. I used to think variety didn't matter.....I ran into a red clover (Barduro) that changed that thinking.

I used chicory in the past simply as an additive to a perennial clover plot. However I have seen that chicory becomes a "gold mine" for a period of time in late October/early November here. I am not sure why, but it is very clear that this time frame something happens in the chicory that causes the deer to target it. I am hoping to capitalize on this for archery hunting. As such I want a deer friendly chicory and not just some "additive".

 

[tynimiller]

I'm going to keep this simple because it obviously can get complicated.....

What specific varieties of chicory have worked best for you guys?

I am re-vamping some plots and may even plant a chicory only or chicory heavy plot. I used to think variety didn't matter.....I ran into a red clover (Barduro) that changed that thinking.

I used chicory in the past simply as an additive to a perennial clover plot. However I have seen that chicory becomes a "gold mine" for a period of time in late October/early November here. I am not sure why, but it is very clear that this time frame something happens in the chicory that causes the deer to target it. I am hoping to capitalize on this for archery hunting. As such I want a deer friendly chicory and not just some "additive".

I 100% concur with your chicory observations here as well. Planning a section to be 80% chicory or more this coming season. I'll check my bags I grabbed locally, and also my Real World blend variety...both have treated me tremendously well.

 

[Boll Weevil]

One more thing you might consider. I found that when planted with clover, the chicory was virtually gone within a year due to a combination of competition and browsing. In my case, the Durana which is extremely competitive, overtook the chicory in very short order. Not sure what the appropriate % is for the chicory to remain a healthy perennial but my plantings with Durana could all be considered failures (assuming the desired outcome was a mix of clover and chicory).

 

[yoderjac]

One more thing you might consider. I found that when planted with clover, the chicory was virtually gone within a year due to a combination of competition and browsing. In my case, the Durana which is extremely competitive, overtook the chicory in very short order. Not sure what the appropriate % is for the chicory to remain a healthy perennial but my plantings with Durana could all be considered failures (assuming the desired outcome was a mix of clover and chicory).

It worked well for me when I mixed it with Ladino clover but was not worth the cost once I switched to Durana. Not only did the Durana out-compete the chicory much more quickly, it goes dormant for a much shorter period in the summer if at all making the chicory less valuable.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[j-bird]

One more thing you might consider. I found that when planted with clover, the chicory was virtually gone within a year due to a combination of competition and browsing. In my case, the Durana which is extremely competitive, overtook the chicory in very short order. Not sure what the appropriate % is for the chicory to remain a healthy perennial but my plantings with Durana could all be considered failures (assuming the desired outcome was a mix of clover and chicory).

Some will be a mix with clovers while others will be a high percentage chicory. FWIW I was looking at durana as a clover so your input is still pretty handy.......maybe planting chicory in strips is a better solution if the durana is so aggressive.

 

[tynimiller]

j-bird not home yet to check bags..but wanted to comment a thought I'm doing. That section I want a high percentage of chicory I am planting it with crimson. Won't compete with the chicory longterm like durana yet offer immense attractiveness in a window different than the chicory.

 

[j-bird]

j-bird not home yet to check bags..but wanted to comment a thought I'm doing. That section I want a high percentage of chicory I am planting it with crimson. Won't compete with the chicory longterm like durana yet offer immense attractiveness in a window different than the chicory.

I will keep that in mind as a possibility as well. I figure if I plant it as a monoculture for a bow plot I may be able to add some cereal grains and the like to it to give the plot a little longer life as well. Heck I don't know.....I'll fake until I make it!

 

[Mortenson]

Be advised that Durana is generally regarded as more southern clover. Maybe others could chime in on that. I've read some in the more northern areas of the midwest had it winter kill on them. That basically happened to mine. After each winter the Ladino seems to come back better than the durana. My plots with Alice and Ladino seem stronger. I'm interested in incorporating chicory now too. I see Welter's offers two varieties.

 

[j-bird]

Be advised that Durana is generally regarded as more southern clover. Maybe others could chime in on that. I've read some in the more northern areas of the midwest had it winter kill on them. That basically happened to mine. After each winter the Ladino seems to come back better than the durana. My plots with Alice and Ladino seem stronger. I'm interested in incorporating chicory now too. I see Welter's offers two varieties.

I saw that at Welters as well and may look at trying both. My perennial plots where initially planted in "cow food" varieties as I didn't know better.....I should have but ......hindsight and all. I will take a deeper look into the clover varieties as well.

 

[j-bird]

Just sharing some info.....
http://www.tecomate.com/articles/Chicory_A_Powerful_Perennial.pdf

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I have used Oasis from welters and VNS from Albert Lea Seed. They ate both but the Oasis was better. I had chicory in two plots with Ladino for 3 years each with no sign of the clover taking over or the chicory getting thin. I will let it go to seed every other year though.

 

[yoderjac]

Just sharing some info.....
http://www.tecomate.com/articles/Chicory_A_Powerful_Perennial.pdf

I believe with Chicory, the attractiveness is correlated with the amount of tannin. The lower the tannin the more attractive.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[H20fwler]

My chicory experience has been the same...deer browse a little through summer then eat it to the dirt after a couple hard frosts. I mix some ladino and red clover in with mine and it has worked good so far.
I've only had chicory out for a couple years, first year I don't think the local deer really knew what it was kind of snubbing it but once they got used to it they tore it up.
I buy mine from the local elevator.

 

[Bill]

When is the best time to plant? Spring or fall. I've only ever used in mixes years ago with BOB seed. Don't use those anymore but if Don's mix is competitive I might try that.

 

[Native Hunter]

When is the best time to plant? Spring or fall. I've only ever used in mixes years ago with BOB seed. Don't use those anymore but if Don's mix is competitive I might try that.

Bill, I plant chicory and clover in the fall with brassicas. The brassicas outgrow the chicory and clover in the fall, but the next spring the brassicas are gone and the chicory and clover really take off.

PS: WI and Commander chicory have worked well for me in the past. Both are great. This year I'm trying a different variety called Antler. This is not "Antler King." It is just a variety called Antler.

 

[Native Hunter]

Brassicas transforming into Chicory and Clover:

 

[j-bird]

Planting clover is like planting chicory, you can plant spring or fall, but fall tends to be better. I have planted with decent results in the spring....as long as mother nature cooperates some. Like Native states plant clover and chicory with your fall annual plot and sort of kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak...works well also.

Native - I think you got some posts mixed up on forums! The "Antler" variety you speak of you said on the other forum is actually "six point".

 

[Native Hunter]

Planting clover is like planting chicory, you can plant spring or fall, but fall tends to be better. I have planted with decent results in the spring....as long as mother nature cooperates some. Like Native states plant clover and chicory with your fall annual plot and sort of kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak...works well also.

Native - I think you got some posts mixed up on forums! The "Antler" variety you speak of you said on the other forum is actually "six point".

Yes, that is correct. I made a mistake and said I planted Antler, but after looking back at my notes, I saw it was Six Point. I have been busy working today and hadn't had a chance to correct it on this forum until just now.........

It's hard to believe that a young guy like me could get something like that confused......

 

[j-bird]

Yes, that is correct. I made a mistake and said I planted Antler, but after looking back at my notes, I saw it was Six Point. I have been busy working today and hadn't had a chance to correct it on this forum until just now.........

It's hard to believe that a young guy like me could get something like that confused......

Not a big deal....I often have to double check as I bounce between forums to make sure I am making sense..... Not that it ensures I am making sense, but at least I try! The downside of the "scattering"....... Check on the other forum as Cutman seems to have found a source for the Barduro as well!

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Not to change the topic but where is the source for Barduro? Also, will this stuff grow in the north?