Variety traits

Plant height — chicory

Cichorium intybus L. (Leaf Chicory Group)

A morphometric parameter measured as the distance from the soil surface to the leaf tips during the first year of vegetation, or to the point of inflorescence attachment in the second year.

In the reference 5 varieties crop Chicory, where this is mentioned in the description.

In the first year of life, during the formation of the basal rosette, the height is determined by the most developed leaves. For baby-leaf types, the marketable height is 8–15 cm, while in other leafy forms it can reach 30–45 cm. In the second year of development, chicory produces a flowering stem ranging from 60 to 150 cm in height.

Excessive growth in the first year of life is an undesirable trait for salad varieties, as it triggers early bolting, tissue toughening, and the accumulation of bitterness. Stable rosette growth serves as an indicator of proper plant development and ensures the quality of root crops in forcing varieties, such as witloof.

Plant height is a key criterion when selecting harvesting technology, including the cutting height above the soil surface, and is used as a classification trait in variety trial protocols to distinguish variety groups by development type.

General information about the subject — on the page Plant height.

Sources8

Varieties of Chicory mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.