Vitluf «Conus» – medium-early variety of chicory salad, which in the first year forms a vertical rosette of leaves and a root fruit up to 20 cm long and 3–5 cm in diameter. The root is white and serves as the basis for growing heads, which appear after 15–20 days of planting at temperatures of 15–18 °C. The heads have a long-elliptical shape, 15–20 cm long, with a slightly bitter taste, due to the high content of inulin – a useful carbohydrate, similar to insulin, which has a beneficial effect on digestion and metabolism.
The «Conus» variety is grown as a biennial plant: in the first year a root fruit is formed, and in the second – an upright stem up to 1.5 m high. Heads are used fresh, boiled or stewed, as well as in salads with mayonnaise or mustard sauce, where the bitterness is almost imperceptible. Vitluf contains proteins (≈1 %), fats (≈0.1 %) and carbohydrates (≈3 %), including 20 % inulin, as well as minerals – potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and iron.
For cultivation, it is recommended to sow seeds from the end of April to mid-June at a depth of 1–2 cm, with inter-row distances of 30–45 cm. The plant prefers neutral soils, regular watering and moderate feeding with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers (15–20 g/m²). Under conditions of low humidity, the root layer may become bitter, so it is important to maintain a sufficient level of water. The culture is cold-hardy: adult plants withstand frosts up to –30 °C and can survive in the ground with proper shelter.
Root crops are sorted by size and stored at 2–3 °C, humidity of 95 % with ventilation. Growing heads is carried out in the dark at temperatures of 8–10 °C; after growing, they are kept in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Vitluf «Conus» – a valuable dietary plant, promoting improved digestion, liver and cardiovascular system function, as well as increasing appetite and laxative effect.
