Chicory
EscaroleHow to sow escarole successfully under cover?
To sow escarole under cover, choose a deep container with holes for good drainage. Fill it with light, well-aerated potting soil. Sow the seeds on the surface of the mould, spacing them a few centimetres apart. Then cover them with a thin layer of potting soil. Water gently so as not to displace the seeds.
Place the container under cover, at a temperature of around 18°C. Be sure to keep the potting soil moist but not soggy by watering regularly.
After emergence, plant the seeds in a thin layer of potting soil.
After emergence, wait until the plants have a few leaves before transplanting them into the ground, spacing them about 20 cm apart. Choose a sunny spot that is protected from the wind.
Be sure to hoe regularly to aerate the soil and mulch to limit weeds. Escarole thrives in fresh soil rich in organic matter.
This is the best way to grow escarole.
By following these tips, you'll get beautiful, tasty, organic escarole without the need for chemical fertilisers.
How to sow escarole successfully outdoors?
To sow escarole outdoors, choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Avoid soils that are too acidic, which could harm the plant's growth. Generally, escarole is sown in spring, once the risk of frost has passed.
Before sowing, prepare the soil by deep spading and careful weeding. To sow the seeds, make furrows about twenty centimetres apart and place the seeds every 5-7 centimetres. Cover lightly with soil and tamp gently.
Keep the soil moist throughout the germination phase. When the seedlings reach a few centimetres in height, thin them out, leaving just one plant every 20-30 centimetres to give the escarole enough room to develop.
The plant will grow to a height of a few centimetres.
Protect young plants from slugs and snails that might feed on them. You can also mulch around the plants to keep the soil moist and limit weed growth. Escarole will be ready to harvest about 2 months after sowing.
How do I plant escarole?
To plant escarole, choose a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden. Escarole prefers nutrient-rich, loose, cool soil. Before planting, work the soil by decompacting it and incorporating compost to improve its structure.
You can sow escarole seeds directly in the ground in spring or autumn. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1 to 2 centimetres and space them about 20 centimetres apart. Once the plants have reached a sufficient size, thin them out, leaving just one plant every 20 centimetres.
If you prefer to transplant escarole plants, do so in spring after the risk of frost. Dig small holes in the soil, space the plants about 20 centimetres apart and lightly pack the soil around the roots.
Escarole is an undemanding plant that can grow without chemical fertilisers. Make sure you keep the soil moist in dry periods and regularly remove weeds to encourage escarole growth.
Escarole is an undemanding plant that can grow without chemical fertilisers.
When should escarole be harvested?
Escarole is a winter salad appreciated for its slightly bitter taste. To harvest it, it's best to wait until the leaves are fully formed, usually in late autumn or winter. To do this, simply cut the escarole flush with the ground, leaving the roots in place to encourage new growth. Escarole keeps well in a cool, dark, damp place for about a week. We recommend eating it soon after harvesting to enjoy all its flavours.
Escarole
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical Family : Asteraceae (composites)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Adult Height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 1 cm
- Plant Spacing : 25 cm
- Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Low
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing