Chicory grows naturally in the wild throughout the US and Canada. While the blue flowers that blossom from late summer to autumn are pretty, Chicory is most prized for its bountiful uses as a prebiotic, a stimulant, and a nutrient powerhouse. Nutrient-rich leaves are used in salads. The roots are used as a coffee substitute. Healthful compounds include: Inulin, coumarins, tannins, monomeric flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactones. Likewise, health promoting qualities upon consumption are: anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimutagenic, antifungal, anthelmintic, immune-stimulating, and antihepatotoxic and antioxidative in nature. As a prebiotic, inulin is an ideal sugar substitute for diabetics, thus replacing coffee with ground chicory root in the mornings before taking a probiotic makes for a sensible, healthful and rewarding choice! Chicory will grow in most any soil so there is no need for store-bought soils or fertilizers. However, if you have heavy clay in your ground, you'll want to mix some sand into it. Germination instructions: Sow seeds 1/4 an inch down. Keep seeds and soil moist during the germination phase (up to 21 days). While chicory seeds will germinate in a broad range of temperatures, the ideal temperature for the highest germination rate is around 75 degrees. Enjoy next day handling time and shipping via USPS First Class.