Chicory
EndiveHow to sow chicory successfully outdoors?
To sow chicory outdoors, it's best to do so in spring or autumn. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Before sowing, loosen the soil by spading and weeding.
Sow the endive seeds about 1 to 2 centimetres deep and about 20 centimetres apart. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, but be careful not to overwater to prevent the seeds rotting.
Make sure the young plants get enough light to develop properly. Once they're big enough, you can thin them out, leaving just one plant every 20 centimetres. Endive is usually harvested in autumn, once the leaves have fully formed.
How do I harvest endives?
Endives, also known as chicory, are generally harvested in autumn or winter. To harvest endives, it is important to cut the leaves flush with the collar, then carefully pull the plant from the ground. It is advisable to let the endives air dry for a few hours before storing them in a cool, dark place.
Endives can be stored for up to several weeks in the fridge, wrapped in a damp cloth to prevent them drying out. It is advisable to eat them as soon as possible to take advantage of their freshness and nutritional benefits.
For natural chicory growing, favour well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid the use of chemical fertilisers and favour natural methods of combating disease and pests, such as mulching or crop rotation.
Endive
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Root vegetables
- Botanical Family : Asteraceae (composites)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Challenging
- Adult Height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 1 cm
- Plant Spacing : 30 cm
- Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : High
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Self-pollinating
- Propagation : Sowing