Endive . Sounds like something you ’d get hold on a fancy menu , and candidly , it totally deserves that spot . If you ’ve never tried it , image a leafy light-green with a bit of sass — crunchy , a little bitter , but not in a forged way . It ’s like the rebel of the lettuce man . Great for balancing out rich or with child dishes , and it tote up that sweet , nippy pungency that just feel like you ’re eating something levelheaded .

Endive is also a coolheaded plant to grow . It thrives in cool weather , so it ’s perfect for those fall and early spring month when everything else is take a gap . The leaves are tightly packed and usually have a dainty , pallid yellow to clean color , with a jot of special K that makes your garden see like it ’s straight out of a culinary magazine .

But here ’s the catch : do n’t seek to hotfoot it . Endive likes its prison term , and it does n’t do well in hot summer hotness . If you ’re sample to rise it in warm month , it might just throw a scene and bolt . You ’re well off plant it in the nerveless month and let it do its thing .

And when it comes to eat it ? extremely various . Throw it in a salad , blackguard it , or even use it as a base for starter . commit me , it ’s worth the little extra effort it takes to get it good . Plus , it ’s crushed in calories andpacked with nutrient — so , no guilt trip there .

How to Grow Endive

grow endive can be a rewarding cognitive operation , especially if you ’re aiming to have tonic honey oil for your salads . Below is a step - by - dance step guide to serve you through the process of planting , growing , and harvest chicory escarole .

Choosing the Right Variety

Planting Endive

Growing Endive

Harvesting Endive

Endive Growing Zone

Endive ( Cichorium endivia ) is a cool - season craw that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9 . It prefers temperature between 60 ° F and 75 ° F ( 15 ° C to 24 ° hundred ) .

Endive can be spring up as a fountain or fall crop , as it is sensitive to oestrus and may run out in warmer temperature .

In warmer regions ( geographical zone 8 and 9 ) , it is best to grow endive in the fall or winter to avoid the heat of summer .

Tips for Success

Growing Endive FAQ

Endive is a leafy vegetable that belongs to the chicory family . It ’s hump for its somewhat bitter penchant and is unremarkably used in salads . There are two main types : curly witloof ( frisée ) and broad - leave endive ( endive ) .

Sow seeds now in the garden or start them indoors 4 - 6 weeks before the last expected frost . flora seeds 1/4 inch deep in well - draining soil . seedling typically emerge in 7 - 10 days .

Endive is a coolheaded - time of year crop , best planted in early outflow or late summer . In soft climates , it can also be grown during the decline and winter .

To prevent bolting , keep logical soil wet , and industrial plant chicory escarole so that it matures during cool weather . Harvest quick as the weather warm up .

Harvest endive when the leaves are large enough to use , usually 85 - 100 sidereal day after planting . For curly endive , abridge the whole plant at the base . For endive , pick the outer leave behind individually if you prefer .

Yes , endive can be rise in container . opt a pot at least 12 inches deep with good drainage . practice high - timber potting filth and water on a regular basis .

Endive can tolerate light Frost , but hard freezes can damage the plants . If a frost is expected , protect the plant life with row covers or move containers indoors .

Endive can be grown indoors if provided with sufficient light . Place it near a sunny windowpane or practice grow visible radiation . check good melody circulation to prevent fungous way out .