Cicory of the 'Cezar' variety is a medium-maturing perennial plant with blue flowers, reaching up to two meters in height. The roots are narrowly conical in shape with a yellowish-green hue, averaging about 26.2 cm in length and up to 9 cm in diameter at their widest point. The root weight is approximately 430-500 grams. The plant is characterized by high yield and resistance to drought, frost, and stem breakage in the first year of cultivation, making it low-maintenance and easy to grow.
The 'Cezar' variety is rich in beneficial substances, including inulin, B-vitamins, tannins, carotene, and organic acids, which positively affect human health. Due to its inulin content, the roots are widely used as a coffee substitute, especially for those who cannot consume caffeine. To prepare a beverage, the roots are thoroughly washed, dried in a dark place, then ground and roasted in an oven.
This variety is suitable for cultivation in all regions of Ukraine, both in open and protected soil, preferring light soils such as chernozems and sandy loams with adequate potassium content or with potassium fertilizers applied. The recommended seeding rate is approximately 400,000 seeds per hectare (about 2 kg). The vegetative period lasts 160-170 days, and with proper fertilization, yields reach 24-40 tons per hectare. 'Cezar' cicory tolerates mechanized harvesting and dense planting, which simplifies cultivation and increases production efficiency.
