Sugar Loaf Greens

Sugar Loaf is also known as Chicory; sweet loaf; or green loaf.

I have been exploring this type of vegetable since June 2013.


Through the first experience I found this salad is the one; and only special kind.

Image 1-4

If you are trying for the first time; you may wish to know this green's habits before you start.

First Project Discoveries

• This vegetable plant has light green thin leaves; and it can be transplanted many times.
  
  
  
• It grows very slow.
  
  
  
• If it is grown in the open ground the roots can be long and deep.
  
  
  
• It can be grown in any containers; and or plastic bags.
  
  
  
• The leafy head close and open how many times; is depends on the temperature and rain falls.
  
  
  
• It can grow over the winter.
  
  

I want to know how much I can do with one little Chicory seed; so I have done the second project here below:

Project Two

Period: From 30th January 2014 to 24th October 2015

Duration: 632 days

Growing season: Late winter to Early Autumn

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Sugar Loaf Plant's Development

• Four seeds were Selected and placed in 4 separated coconut fibre cakes indoor at 20°C heated room temperature (top picture 1&2) on 30-1-2014.
  
  
  
• The first seed was sprouted on 6th February (picture 3).
  
  
  
• Four young plants appeared on 22nd February (picture 4).
  
  
  
• Transferred 3 plants outdoor on 1st April at mid-day temperature 23°C; and the 4th plant was transplanted on 24th April at mid-day temperature at 25°C (picture 5-8).
  
  
  
• Three plants have grown bigger on 5-8-2014 (below picture 9-11).
  
  
  

• On 10th October when the temperature went low; 2 plants ware transferred to the hanging pots at the north side of the garden; with an airy plastic cover (picture 12 above); to get ready for the winter.
  
  
  
• Move the 3rd plant to hanging container on 3rd November (picture 13).
  
  
  
• During the whole winter season I feed a little water; and opened the plastic to air them for a few minutes; when there was sunshine.
  
  
  
• After winter, on 10-5-2015 all plants have been expanded (picture 14-16).
  
  

Image 13-16

• Harvested one on 14-5-2015 and cut off the top to taste (below picture 17-19); the greens were bitter.
  
  

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At this point, you can choose to set the living roots in a container for further explorer (picture 20); or put it in the compost bin right away. The choice is yours!

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• Surprisingly; a small plant appeared on 4-6-2015 (picture 21); and it slowly grown into many side shoots and flower buds (picture 22-24).
  
  

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• On 6-7-2015 While the tops of the flower buds were turning red (above picture 25); the side shoots were increasing at the same time (picture 26).
  
  
  
• The first wide opened sweet blue flower was born on 10-7-2015; and the full bloomed was on 23rd July (picture 27-28).
  
  
  The whole of September we rely totally on the nature.
  
  
  
• On first day of Oct most of the seeds were ready for harvest (picture 29).
  
  
  
• On 10-10-2015 the last flower appeared (picture 30).
  
  
  
• On 24-10-2015 pull out the whole dried up plant; and collected all the organic seeds for next year (picture 31-32).
  
  

Image 29-32

Conclusion

1. If you want to taste it raw; please eat them when they are young and tender.
   
   
   
2. All over freezing winter greens are bitter; however you can sweeten them with onions while cooking.
   
   
   
3. The dried plant you may extract the fibres for garden crafts; if you wish to try making something beautiful from it.
   
   
   
4. You can dry the sweet looking blue flowers for tea.
   
   

Try planting sugar loaf yourself?

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