The first chicory sprouts can be harvested as early as December, when you start driving at the end of October.
The roots intended for this forcing time need the influence of low temperatures for a short time before forcing. It is best to leave them outside after digging up and only lightly cover them with the cut leaves until you use them again. Large earthenware pots are very suitable for forcing, Buckets and similar containers or boxes lined with foil. Place the roots close together in the containers and fill the gaps with sand or earth. Then it is poured on well and the vessel is placed in a room with temperatures of 15 brought to 18°C. In watertight containers it was enough, instead of sand 8 fill up with water up to 10 cm high. Important is, that the chicory sprout in complete darkness, because the shoots turn green when exposed to light. With sufficient vessel height, d.h. at least 18 to 20 cm from the root heads to the upper edge of the vessel, a tight-fitting lid is sufficient, which you put a cloth underneath for better sealing. One puts them in low vessels 4 rods, covered with an opaque cloth or similar. and ties it together under the rim of the jar. Care must be taken during the forcing, that the roots always have sufficient moisture. Driving under these conditions lasts about 4 weeks. So you bet everyone 4 Weeks new roots to drive.