For you, the basis of a wonderful chicory crop starts in the field. This is where you work hard, often in collaboration with growers who force the chicory (belgian endive), to cultivate healthy, perfectly sized, uniform roots. After being harvested, the roots are placed in cold storage for a short or longer period of time until being planted.
During the following 3 weeks, a nice firm head of chicory will form on top of the root. This is a great growing cycle, but unfortunately there are a few times at which both the crops in the field and in the forcing container may experience stress. We have solutions for those situations that make the crop more resilient and experience less stress. The benefit of this is a more vital and healthier crop that grows better and produces more.
The silicon in our biostimulant SilicaPower helps chicory become stronger and protects it from stress conditions during both root cultivation and forcing. Silicon boosts root development and strengthens the cell walls and epidermis of the leaves, the root and the head. It also ensures balanced uptake and distribution of calcium, magnesium and manganese by the plant. Calcium and magnesium in particular improve the capacity of the chicory root to absorb water and nutrients. Calcium also plays an important role in the development of the chicory head. Therefore, use SilicaPower during both root cultivation and forcing. The harvested root is stronger and more suitable for long-term storage. The chicory head is firmer, is less likely to bruise during harvesting and it therefore has a better shelf life.
Recommended dosage/advice for use - SilicaPower in chicory root cultivation
Recommended dosage/advice for use SilicaPower in chicory forcing
SilicaPower is the purest silicon biostimulant on the market. No salts have been added.
To improve the self-healing capacity of the chicory roots before planting them in the forcing container, we recommend dipping the roots in our CE fertiliser ArgicinPlus for 15 minutes. Because of the different components, each with its own function, ArgicinPlus is a product with a broad effect. It boosts the chicory roots, mainly adding value if there are wounds as a result of the roots being taken from the cold stores and planted in the forcing container.
ArgicinPlus contains three different components: orthosilicic acid (silicon), willow bark extract and colloidal silver.
Recommended dosage/advice for use ArgicinPlus as dipping treatment of chicory roots
Our microbiological water-maintenance product Blue Bac-2 is ideal for cleaning up organic contamination in your irrigation (circulation) systems. The Bacillus bacteria in Blue Bac-2 produce enzymes that leave behind a natural coating which organic contaminants, such as sand, cannot adhere to. The other main benefits of Blue Bac-2 are the extra boost it gives to root development and its ability to maintain the stability of the pH of the process water, even without additional acidification.
Recommended dosage/advice for use Blue Bac-2
Do not add Blue Bac-2 at the same time to process water to which hydrogen peroxide, chloride or a disinfectant has been added. This causes Blue Bac-2 to break down, through which the effect is lost.
Bespoke advice for your root cultivation or forcing operations
Would you like advice about your cultivation or farm situation? Contact your dealer, or our advisor Alwin Scholten. Alwin can be contacted on telephone number +31 (0)6 49 33 49 30, or by email.
Grow healthy, resilient chicory plants using PlantoSys products, which use ingredients obtained directly from nature. Our products mean no residues, no growth inhibition and no re-entry. There is no safety term before harvest.
Your contact person
Alwin Scholten