Chicory

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Oasis and Forb Feast here. Also from Welter's.

Native Hunter - In the pics you posted at post #8, are the blue flowers on your chicory blooming on planted chicory - or wild stuff?? We have wild chicory along our roads here that look like those in your pic. The chicory we planted at camp never grew tall enough to bloom - deer ate them off.

My planted chickory will bloom like that in the spring.

 

[Native Hunter]

Oasis and Forb Feast here. Also from Welter's.

Native Hunter - In the pics you posted at post #8, are the blue flowers on your chicory blooming on planted chicory - or wild stuff?? We have wild chicory along our roads here that look like those in your pic. The chicory we planted at camp never grew tall enough to bloom - deer ate them off.

That is forage chicory I planted. However, there is an area about 2 hours north of me where the fields look that way with wild chicory. I'm not sure what it is about the soils in that area, but it is just amazing to see how much of it there is. The area I'm talking about is around Winchester, KY. Wild chicory is less palatable than forage chicory, but a guy who lives in that area told me that they eat the wild stuff pretty well. Around here I see the wild stuff growing just a little along the road edges but not out in the fields. Perhaps the deer has eaten it all.......

 

[Native Hunter]

Why do you like Commander over other varieties, Native?

It seems to me like they will eat quite a bit more of the stems on that variety. I had some trail camera pics of a big buck one year taking like 18 inches out of the top of some Commander chicory plants. I also recall one winter just before that seeing some does pull the plants up out of the ground and eating the roots. These things might also happen with some other varieties, but I know for sure they happened with Commander. However, I've never seen any variety of forage chicory that they didn't eat well on my place.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Around here I see the wild stuff growing just a little along the road edges but not out in the fields

That's what I see here. Roadways are lined with the wild chicory, but not out in ag or fallow fields. The blue flower color is spectacular!!
Our planted forage chicory at camp didn't get the chance to bloom, I guess. Eaten shorter. Your pics of mixed forbs and flowering, pollinator-friendly plants are magazine-cover worthy!

 

[jsasker007]

Chicory in my plots gets overwhelmed by the clover second yr. But did not plant super heavy. Really not as beneficial as maybe further south as clovers here typically do well and dont go dormant like areas with hotter drier summers. Can happen but a couple super dry summers in 20 yrs is not a pattern to rework a plan where clover works pretty well all summer. I plant clover as much for spring turkey action as the deer. But I do see chicory a lot more now as a weed in the gravel road shoulders up here.

This is the reason why I start off a plot with about 80% chicory and 20% clover. The clover will eventually take over the plot but it goes several years longer before you need to correct it.

 

[Fair oak]

Does chicory do well on heavy wet clay? No standing water just water logged for a couple weeks each spring and fall. Looking to experiment with a few different plantings this year instead of just winter rye, clover and brassicas.

 

[Nightvision]

Does chicory do well on heavy wet clay? No standing water just water logged for a couple weeks each spring and fall. Looking to experiment with a few different plantings this year instead of just winter rye, clover and brassicas.

I wouldn’t think so. It has a long tap root so it’s very drought tolerant. But, it’s fairly cheap so give it a try.

 

[SD51555]

Does chicory do well on heavy wet clay? No standing water just water logged for a couple weeks each spring and fall. Looking to experiment with a few different plantings this year instead of just winter rye, clover and brassicas.

My ground is heavy wet clay. I've got it up out of the water finally, but still in smear clay. It does well for me.

 

[Fair oak]

I’ll give chicory a try. Most of my ground does really dry out mid-summer. Goes from boot sticking molding clay in the spring to cracked up concrete in July but I’ve had good luck growing things now that my PH is running 6.3-6.5 in my plots. It seems like the clay is actually starting to turn into a better soil now that I’ve had plots going for 3 years.

 

[omicron1792]

I’ll give chicory a try. Most of my ground does really dry out mid-summer. Goes from boot sticking molding clay in the spring to cracked up concrete in July but I’ve had good luck growing things now that my PH is running 6.3-6.5 in my plots. It seems like the clay is actually starting to turn into a better soil now that I’ve had plots going for 3 years.

Those are pretty my man. Good work.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I’ll give chicory a try. Most of my ground does really dry out mid-summer. Goes from boot sticking molding clay in the spring to cracked up concrete in July but I’ve had good luck growing things now that my PH is running 6.3-6.5 in my plots. It seems like the clay is actually starting to turn into a better soil now that I’ve had plots going for 3 years.

uh yeah, I'd say you're doing fine!

 

[JonJ]

Need advice on long-term plots. Lease being sold and will end up adding to neighboring state park. Have 12 year history with resident deer herd and want to leave them something other than weeds. Fields will get high mowing once a year. Thinking clover and chicory. TIA

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Need advice on long-term plots. Lease being sold and will end up adding to neighboring state park. Have 12 year history with resident deer herd and want to leave them something other than weeds. Fields will get high mowing once a year. Thinking clover and chicory. TIA

Some of the guys here on HT forum are having trouble getting rid of white Dutch clover in their fields. It has to be tough and long-lasting. Maybe try white Dutch clover along with a 3 to 4 year duration red clover and chicory.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

The northwoods whitetail clover and chicory blend has 3 or so varieties of ladino clover and a high chicory component. That might be a good one to try.

 

[JonJ]

Thanks guys

 

[blueKYstream]

That is forage chicory I planted. However, there is an area about 2 hours north of me where the fields look that way with wild chicory. I'm not sure what it is about the soils in that area, but it is just amazing to see how much of it there is. The area I'm talking about is around Winchester, KY. Wild chicory is less palatable than forage chicory, but a guy who lives in that area told me that they eat the wild stuff pretty well. Around here I see the wild stuff growing just a little along the road edges but not out in the fields. Perhaps the deer has eaten it all.......

I'm an hour northwest of Winchester. There are vast amounts of wild chicory on my place, particularly along the road and near any gravel (perhaps a soil pH they like?). It's also abundant on the portion of the property where cattle are rotationally grazed (fescue pastures). I've planted forage chicory in footplots on the other portion with NWSG. It never gets to the same height as wild chicory. Deer generally seem to keep it foraged low. I should probably pay more attention to the wild chicory to see how desireable it is, but I don't recall noticing much grazing in the summer anyways. It's likely because it's so abundant.