Chicory is a perennial forage crop highly valued in deer management food plots. Whitetails are attracted to its high palatability and impressive nutritional profile, often providing 20 to 32 percent crude protein, which supports antler growth and fawn development. The plant’s deep taproot system allows it to access moisture far below the surface, making it resistant to drought conditions that often cause other forages to fail during hot summer months. This combination makes chicory a reliable, long-lasting food source for deer.
Determining Optimal Planting Windows
Chicory offers two primary planting windows, depending on regional climate and management goals. The goal for both is to ensure young plants establish a strong root system before facing environmental stress, such as summer heat or winter frost.
Spring planting is recommended for northern regions, starting as soon as the threat of a hard freeze has passed, typically late March through May. Planting now allows the chicory to develop its deep taproot, ensuring forage is available during summer when does are lactating and bucks are growing antlers.
The alternative, and often preferred, method is late summer or fall planting, especially in southern and transitional zones. This window typically falls 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected hard frost (August in the North, early to mid-September in the South). Fall planting allows the chicory to establish during cooler, wetter months, which reduces competition from aggressive summer annual weeds. This results in a robust stand ready to produce high-quality forage the following spring.
Essential Soil and Seedbed Preparation
Successful chicory establishment begins with a thorough soil analysis. Chicory performs best when the soil pH is maintained between 6.0 and 7.0, though it can tolerate conditions down to 5.5. A soil test determines how much agricultural lime must be applied to raise the pH to the optimal level, a step that should be completed well in advance of planting.
Initial fertilization is also guided by soil test results, as chicory has high fertility requirements. While nitrogen is less of a concern, especially if planted with a nitrogen-fixing legume like clover, the plant greatly benefits from phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). If a soil test is unavailable, apply a balanced fertilizer such as 13-13-13 at a rate of 200 to 300 pounds per acre.
Creating a firm, smooth seedbed is necessary to ensure high germination rates for the small chicory seeds. After tilling or disking to control existing vegetation, the soil should be smoothed and compacted using a cultipacker or heavy roller. This firm base prevents the seeds from being buried too deeply, which is a common cause of planting failure. Chicory seeds should be broadcast onto the prepared seedbed and then covered to a depth of no more than 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
Ensuring Stand Longevity and Forage Quality
Maintaining the perennial nature and high palatability of an established chicory stand requires specific management practices. The primary goal is to prevent the plant from flowering, or “bolting,” which shifts energy from producing succulent leaves to developing a hard seed stalk, decreasing forage quality.
Mowing or clipping the stand is the most effective way to encourage new leaf growth and sustain palatability. This should be done when plants reach 10 to 12 inches and begin to produce a seed head. Set the mower deck to clip the stand down to a height of 4 to 6 inches, removing the seed head without stressing the root system.
Maintenance fertilization is necessary to sustain the plot’s productivity over multiple years. Since chicory is a perennial, focus on replenishing phosphorus and potassium, often applied in the spring or early fall. Use a fertilizer with zero or very low nitrogen, such as a 0-20-20 blend, to avoid promoting the growth of competing grasses and weeds.
Controlling perennial weeds often requires selective herbicide use or timely mowing. Grass-selective herbicides can be applied post-emergence to manage unwanted grasses without harming the chicory. Regular mowing helps suppress broadleaf weeds by preventing them from setting seed, ensuring chicory remains the dominant forage.