I'm pretty fond of chicory. It blooms from about the middle of June until the first really killing freeze. It will bloom in a drought. It will bloom after a light frost. I will bloom after a fairly heavy frost...
I'm pretty fond of chicory.
Quote from: Michael Bush on December 23, 2013, 08:19:19 pmI'm pretty fond of chicory. :? The stuff is a weed around here! I do admire the blue flowers, but I have never heard of anybody planting it.And 10framer, why one earth would you want to draw deer into your yard to destroy everything! I do everything I can to keep them out (without success I might add)
Well, I’ve never seen a deer touch chicory here. Roses, gardens, and any ornamentals though, they love. The more expensive the bush, the more they LOVE it.I've never even seen a groundhog eat chicory. Nothing eats the stuff :-D
Chicory won't grown in Northern Wisconsin, we tried several times to get some going, even bring up small plants harvested from the south. I agree with BlueBee. White clover is relatively cheap and very productive. We planted and spread a couple hundred dollars of seed a few years ago where we mow (we mow about five acres) and it only took a couple seasons for the clover to become the dominant plant in these areas. An added benefit; Now I don't have to mow as much or as often as we allow the clover to flower, mowing only when roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of the flower heads begin to brown. Mowing then seems to invigorate the clover, making it thicker. We;ll likely plant it all again in a few more years. Sometimes we can watch the ground MOVE with busy bees 8-) Watch out when wearing flip flops ;)
dutch clover runs $5-$6.00 per lb at most retail garden shops. I've found 50# bags @ $159.00= $3.18 per # for dutch white & $109.00=$2.18 per# for ladino & sweet yellow clover at local farm supply stores. I have some corners on my property planted with a mix of sweet yellow clover, buckwheat, & lacy phacelia & they're always loaded with bees.
If I remember correctly, clover is good for improving your soil - naturally adding nitrogen.
Quote from: GSF on December 24, 2013, 09:00:08 pmIf I remember correctly, clover is good for improving your soil - naturally adding nitrogen. buckwheat will too.
>The stuff is a weed around here! I do admire the blue flowers, but I have never heard of anybody planting it.Everything bees work is a weed. I planted 17 acres of it. It works much better drilled than scattered.