Since 1984The number 1 in chicory roots
Grow your own witloof, at home.
Chicory roots from Lof & Loof: one of Belgium's best-loved vegetables, and surprisingly easy to grow yourself. A bucket, some soil and a dark spot are all it takes. Within a few weeks, you'll harvest your own fresh witloof.
- Bag of 25 or 50 roots
- Best value for money
- No greenhouse needed
- Chilled and tested
Seasonal product. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news.
Fresh from your own tray
You harvest exactly what you need, exactly when you need it: no transport, nothing sitting in the fridge for days.
Easy for everyone
A bucket, some soil and a dark corner: that's all it takes. Also fun to do with the kids.
A Belgian classic
Witloof is a Belgian invention and belongs on our tables. Lof & Loof brings that tradition into your own kitchen.
Five steps from bag to plate. No greenhouse or experience needed.
Plant the roots in a bucket of soil
Use a large bucket, tray or flowerpot. Add 10 to 15 cm of potting soil and stand the roots upright, next to each other, crown up. Then fill in more soil around them, making sure the leaves on top stay visible.
💡 You can also buy suitable potting soil at our farm shop.
Give the roots some water
Careful, not too much! Water regularly in small amounts. The roots must never sit in water.
💡 Stand a bottle with the bottom cut off, open end up, in the middle of the bucket. From about 1 week on, this lets you add a little extra water in a controlled way, right at the roots.
Cover the roots with a cloth or bucket
No light may get in: use a black bucket or cloth, or put the container in a dark cellar or shed. Keep it frost-free at 15–18 °C: warmer is faster, but gives open heads.
💡 Use a breathable dark cloth, not plastic, as that would cut off the air.
After about 3 weeks your witloof is ready, time to harvest!
Cut the heads just above the root. In a cooler spot it can take up to 4 weeks. Plant in two rounds, a week apart, to harvest for longer.
💡 You don't have to harvest all the heads at once. Harvest what you need and simply leave the rest in a slightly cooler spot.
Prepare your witloof, and enjoy!
Cut out the bitter cone at the base and prepare your witloof: baked, raw or pan-fried. Find inspiration in the recipes below.
💡 6 to 8 heads usually make up about 1 kg of witloof.
Guide values: exact timing depends on temperature.
Enter your planting date and temperature. The planner shows when you harvest and how many roots you need per round.
Assumption: 2 heads per person per meal and one head per root. Plant a new round every week for an even harvest. Dates are estimates.
Your plan
- First harvest
- –
- Roots per round
- –
- One bag of 50
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Planting and harvesting per round
Chicory roots from Lof & Loof, ready to plant at home. Available in a handy bag of ±25 or ±50.
- Product
- Chicory roots (witloof roots)
- Packaging
- Bag of ±50 (± 7–9 kg). A bag of ±25 (3–4 kg) is also available at our farm shop.
- Growing method
- In soil, in a bucket, tray or flowerpot
- Available
- In our farm shop in Deerlijk or delivered via Hermie
Behind Lof & Loof is the Putman family from Deerlijk. The number 1 in chicory roots, since 1984.
Feel free to drop by our farm shop in Deerlijk.
You can buy chicory roots at Lof & Loof in Deerlijk, or have them delivered easily via Hermie.
In our farm shop
Putman WitloofOude Heerweg 105
8540 Deerlijk
Pick up your roots from us, right by the E17 Kortrijk-Ghent exit.
Pick-up hours for chicory roots
During the season
- Friday afternoon3 pm – 6 pm
- Saturday morning8:30 am – 12:30 pm
✓ Always plenty in stock: no need to reserve for up to 1000 roots. Just drop by during opening hours.
Get directionsDelivered to your door
Bag of ±50 roots (± 7–9 kg)
Order easily through our partner webshop Hermie: price and delivery are clearly listed there.
Order at HermieOur customers rate us on Google. Read their experiences or leave a review yourself.
Customer reviews on Google.
Where can I buy chicory roots (witloof roots)?
Oude Heerweg 105, Deerlijk, near the E17 Kortrijk-Ghent exit, or delivered to your home via the webshop Hermie.
Where can I buy chicory roots in Flanders or near Lille?
At our farm shop in Deerlijk, right next to the E17 motorway. Customers come from all over Flanders: it is a few minutes from Kortrijk, about half an hour from Ghent and about half an hour from Lille. Prefer not to drive? Order online via Hermie for home delivery.
How much do chicory roots cost?
Our price follows the season and the harvest, so it can vary from year to year. Sign up for our newsletter: you will always be the first to know the current price, and you won't miss a single special offer.
Is it cheaper to buy chicory roots at the farm shop?
Yes. Picking up your roots directly from us in Deerlijk costs less than ordering through the webshop. Home delivery involves a lot of extra work: packing, shipping and transport, which is naturally reflected in the price. On the other hand, you don't have to travel: your bag of chicory roots is delivered right to your door. So you choose what suits you best: the best price at our farm shop, or the convenience of home delivery.
What are chicory roots?
Chicory roots, also called witloof roots, are the roots of the witloof (Belgian endive) plant. Kept in the dark, they grow a fresh head of witloof. This is called forcing.
When do you grow witloof?
Witloof is grown in autumn and winter. Our stored chicory roots are available every year from late September, so you can harvest your first home-grown witloof in October.
When are the roots available?
Chicory roots are a seasonal product. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or sign up for the newsletter, to hear when the new harvest arrives.
Where should I put the container?
In a dark, frost-free space such as a cellar, shed or garage. Avoid the kitchen: it is usually too warm there.
My witloof is green or bitter. What went wrong?
Light got in. Cover the container completely, check only briefly and harvest on time.
The heads are open or loose. Why?
It was probably too warm. Above 18 °C witloof grows too fast and the heads do not close well. Move the container somewhere cooler.
There is mould or rot near the roots. What now?
It is often too wet. Water in small amounts, make sure there are drainage holes and never leave the roots standing in water.
How much witloof does one root give?
One root gives one head. The harvest planner calculates how many roots you need.
How do I store the roots before planting?
Keep them cool and dark, and start as soon as possible.
Can I have the roots delivered?
Yes. On our partner webshop Hermie you can order a bag of 50 roots delivered to your home.
Can I harvest witloof more than once from the same root?
No, each root can only be used once and produces a single head of witloof.
The classic, baked
The classic: witloof rolled in ham, topped with a creamy cheese sauce and baked until golden.
View the recipe →Raw and crunchy
Fresh and crunchy in a salad with apple, walnut and a mustard-honey dressing.
View the recipe →Pan-fried or grilled
A few minutes in the pan or on the grill, optionally wrapped in crispy bacon: the bitterness gives way to caramel.
View the recipe →