How to grow Endive?
- Latin Family: Asteraceae
- Latin Genus: Cichorium
- Ease of Growing: Moderate
- Growing Type: Annual
Endive (or Escarole) is a close relative of chicory (which is sometimes called endive). It is a useful green salad plant for cooler climates, though some people dislike its rather bitter flavor.
Endive History
Endive is native to the Mediterranean and was cultivated by the Romans. It is still particularly important in France, Italy and Greece, where it is commonly used like lettuce.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 5.0 - 6.8
- PH Ideal (min/max): 5.8 - 6.0
Endive prefers a rich soil with lots of moisture retentive [humus]. It should be well drained (as with most cold weather crops), otherwise the roots may rot over the winter. It grows well in quite acidic soil.
How to care for Endive?
Endive is cultivated in pretty much the same way as lettuce, though it is more cold tolerant.
Water
The soil must be kept evenly moist, otherwise the plants may bolt.
Fertilizer
Endive needs a rich soil for best growth.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 5 - 10 Years
Germination Percentage: 70.0
Endive produces seed very easily if given the chance, and will bolt in hot weather. Don't save seed from any plants that bold prematurely, as you don't want to produce a strain of quick bolting plants. The flowers are pollinated by insects, so to keep a variety pure it should be the only one in the area. It is quite hard to separate the individual seeds from the flowers, so they are often stored in the dried flower heads. You have to crush the dry flower heads to release the seeds.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Full sun is very important when Endive is growing in cool weather.
Conditions:Cold, Cool
Season:Long Season
Part shade
In warm conditions it will do better in partial shade.
If your garden is shady, this would be a great plant to try growing.
Conditions:Cool, Warm
Season:Long Season
Storage
Endive is best used fresh as it doesn't store well. You can store the heads in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-10 days
Problems
Excessive Bitterness
Endive tends to be bitter when growing in warm weather and so is often blanched at this time. This is done by covering the plants to deprive them of light for a week.
Endive Types
- Broad-leaved
- Curly-leaved
The broad-leaved varieties are sometimes known as Escarole and are the hardiest types of endive. They are usually grown as a fall or winter salad crop.
These varieties are sometimes known as Curly Endive, or by the more chic French name of Chicory Frisee. These are more tolerant of hot weather than the Broad-leaved varieties, so are more often grown in spring and fall. They are much more visually appealing and find their way into many salad mixes.
Pests
- Birds
- Leafhoppers
- Aphids
- Cutworms
- Leafminers
- Slugs and snails
- Groundhog
- Deer
Diseases
- Damping Off
- Downy Mildew
Related Plants
Greens, Juicing
Sprouts
Seacale
Kohlrabi
Collards
Anise
Caraway
Cumin
Cauliflower
Culantro