Chicory - Cichorium Intybus
Chicory has a very distinctive sky-blue flower in the second summer. It is a hardy perennial, which reaches a height of 75cm. It can be seen throughout the UK. The plant has a variety of uses, including the leaves in a salad and the dandelion like tap root which can be dried treated, and like coffee beans, roasted and ground. It is generally added to coffee.
Sow the seed in the spring, directly into the soil. It is important to keep the soil moist. They can also be sown in late summer for early flowers the following year.