Let 'em Grow: Chicory

Aunt Bett said:  "There's two things you'll need, food and medicine. You've got both right here. Let 'em grow."  She pointed to chicory.  With that gorgeous blue bloom, who could consider it a weed anyway?

I don't find chicory growing as abundantly here in western Kentucky as it grew on the other side of the state where I grew up. Of course it's much hotter and drier here, so that makes a difference. Its blooms appear in late summer so as a weed, it doesn't have much of a chance against rampant weedeaters who chop it down before the bright blue blooms begin to shine.

Facts:

*Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a native of Europe, brought to us by settlers for its edible and medicinal value.  It can be found in most of North America.

*Chicory contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, niacin, vitamin C and is rich in vitamin A (necessary for good eyesight).

*It is a healthy tonic, a mild diuretic and laxative and in addition to helping to improve eyesight, it is used herbally as a treatment for gout.

*Chicory helps with liver functions and acts as a mild stimulant.

Foods:

*All parts of chicory are edible.

*Young leaves can be mixed into a salad; alone they have a bitter taste.

*Leaves can be boiled and eaten like spinach.

*Roots can be cooked in ways similar to other root vegetables.

*Chicory can be added to coffee or used as a coffee substitute. If using as coffee, roast roots until they are dark brown, then pulverize.

*Make chicory juice by blending chicory flowers, seeds and roots. It can be used alone as a tonic or is especially beneficial to eyesight when mixed with the juice of carrots, celery and parsley.

Chicory:  Let 'em grow.

* Before gathering greens, be sure they have not been treated with herbicides.

* Weeds are nature's way of providing nutrients to topsoil. Leave a garden fallow for a season, notice the weeds that grew there while you weren't watching. Those weeds are there to provide the elements that are missing from your soil. They are nature's repairmen; smart little weeds know exactly what your soil needs most and they come straight to the rescue.