Cichorium intybusvar.foliosum

When other types of greens are out of season , fragile Belgian endive is in its prime – and give thanks good for that !

This slightly biting , nutty , and refreshingly crisp veg is a welcome antidote to the common winter fare .

But before you go and purchase a packet of seeds to sow in your garden , mind : growing Belgian endive is n’t easy .

A close up horizontal image of three heads of Belgian endive with one cut in half set on a wooden chopping board on a dark brown surface.

C. endiviavar.crispum

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allow the head to grow to maturity requires a hatful of time ( we ’re talking up to half a year ) and multiple footstep . And this most definitely is n’t a flora - it - and - forget - it type of veggie .

I ’m not trying to scare you off , but I require to ensure you ’re prepared for the procedure onward . More than anything , you ’ll need to arm yourself with plenty of patience .

A close up vertical image of the forced and blanched heads of Belgian endive freshly harvested pictured on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

C. endiviavar.crispum

On the brilliant side , Belgian escarole is part of the same folk ( Asteraceae ) as many tenacious plants , such ascommon chicoryanddandelion , so you ’ve got that weed - like hardiness workings in your favor !

In other words , Belgian chicory escarole is n’t terribly demanding in terms of maintenance , or prone to knuckle under to pests and diseases .

So why make the effort to raise Belgian endive ? Well , first of all , get wise veggies on hand in the dead of winter is priceless .

A close up vertical image of the forced and blanched heads of Belgian endive freshly harvested pictured on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

You could corrupt them , but Belgian endive is n’t bum . In my cervix of the woods , a pound of conventionally - rise drumhead cost over eight dollars . For comparison , at the same store , a pound of conventional spinach plant costs just two dollar bill .

You plausibly are n’t considering spring up Belgian Cichorium endivia just to save a few Buck at the grocery store , but it ’s an contribute bonus , right ? Even better than the savings , though , is being able to tackle a Modern garden challenge .

Part of what I bed about gardening is that things are constantly change and you always have to accommodate to young threat and unexpected obstacle .

A close up horizontal image of witloof heads being dug up from the garden after being forced and blanched under a mound of soil.

Nonetheless , gardening can sometimes start to experience a piddling … routine .

So I love it when I find something new to essay , and forcing those luscious , leafy , creamy little torpedoes is definitely a unique challenge .

find like you ’re up for it ? Trust me , you could come after , and this guide will help you through the whole appendage .

A close up horizontal image of a head of frisee endive set on a white surface with peeled garlic and a half of lemon to the left of the frame.

Here ’s what we ’ll cover :

What You’ll Learn

Part of what hold Belgian witloof special is the two - step process involved in mature it .

Initially , the plant focuses energy in its long , parsnip - similar etymon and then you cut off the foliage and dig up the root .

Next , you put the radical in a dark , cool seat and wait for them to raise a second head of bid , crispy , creamy lily-white colored leaves .

A close up horizontal image of escarole heads set on a wooden surface.

you could do it ! Let ’s go !

What Is Belgian Endive?

Before we get fussy acquire Belgian chicory escarole , we demand to clarify a few thing .

First , Belgian endive ( genus Cichorium intybusvar.foliosum ) is not the same matter as endive ( C. endivia ) .

The two are frequently disconnected , but escarole , though a close relative , is a dissimilar species in theCichoriumgenus .

A close up horizontal image of heads of witloof growing in soil in a dark location for forcing and blanching.

Available in two types , the first is know as curly leaf , often call frisee ( C. endiviavar.crispum ) .

The second is wide leaf , often call escarole ( C. endiviavar.latifolia ) .

They look similar to lettuce but have a more bitter flavor .

A close up horizontal image of light blue chicory flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Belgian endive , on the other hand , is that compendious , pale white-livered headway of greenness with a cylindrical form that you ’ve no doubt see at the market computer storage , or at fancy eatery .

It ’s sometimes called Gallic chicory escarole , witloof , chicory , succory , or chicons . In Australia it ’s make love as witlof and the French call it chicon .

After Belgian endive is first planted inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 - 9 , it will grow a crown of green , oblong leaves that depend somewhat like extra - prominent blowball leaf . Underground , a tannish - white root form .

A close up horizontal image of the torpedo-shaped leafy heads of witloof.

The conversant heads you have probably seen at the storage are give rise by digging up the root , cutting off the first head of leaves , and go forth the ascendent in a dark , nerveless daub for about a calendar month to develop the 2d head . I ’ll cut across more about this process below .

Some growers force the head – boost the plant to produce out of doors of its normal develop time of year – and pale it by burying the root under grime or alayer of straw .

Like its leafy , pelf - like relative , the look is slightly acrid , with the addition of a elusive nuttiness that curly endive or escarole lacks .

A close up vertical image of a head of Belgian endive attached to the root set on soil.

Other species in theCichoriumgenus are wild chicory and radicchio .

Belgian endive is a full rootage of vitamins B , 100 , and K. It contains calcium , iron , zinc , K , and folate , as well .

Now that we ’re all on the same pageboy , permit ’s dig in !

A close up horizontal image of Belgian chicory being forced and blanched in a dark location.

Cultivation and History

As with other works in theCichoriumgenus , Belgian endive in all likelihood originated in the Mediterranean region and Asia .

Originally , it was cultivated for its farsighted taproot , which was used as a coffee tree substitute .

harmonize to common lore , Jan Lammers , a farmer from Belgium , had to leave his farm in 1830 to fight for Belgian independence . When he left , he had chicory roots drying in his cellar .

A close up square image of two plastic bottles of Bobbex-R Animal Repellent pictured on a white background.

While he intended to use the stem once it was dry to make a coffee bean substitute , what catch his attending when he devolve to his base a few month afterwards was the sick , delicate pass that had emerged from the roots .

He try the leave and thought they taste undecomposed , with a pleasingly nippy grain . Voila ! Witloof , which mean white leaf , was born .

A Belgian phytologist call Brezier go educate and refining the plant and what we now know as Belgian endive hit the market place in 1846 .

A close up vertical image of a plastic spray bottle of Bonide Repels-All Animal Repellent pictured on a white background.

Propagation

Belgian endive seeds are moderately undemanding , so long as you prep your planting spot in feeler .

One of the most important things is to prepare the soil properly first . You require loose , loamy soil that retains piss but is well - draining .

Turn your soil and murder any rocks before amending to improve the texture .

A close up horizontal image of a snail feeding on leafy greens in the garden.

Rocks can cause roots to grow crooked or to form multiple forked root word rather than one thick-skulled , long , straightforward one , so slash them out of there .

You shouldconduct a ground testbefore planting so you eff exactly what your soil condition is like . That way , you are n’t adding nutrient you do n’t need or leaving out those you do .

Do n’t add any manure to the dirt when planting because it contains eminent levels of atomic number 7 which will encourage an teemingness of leafy greens at the expense of rootage developing . If you need to amend your soil , use well - rotted compost instead .

A close up vertical image of a plastic bottle of Monterey Garden Insect Spray pictured on a white background.

In early leap , after all risk of exposure of frost has passed , put your seed in the solid ground a quarter of an in deep .

But be heedful , as temperature fluctuations – periods of warm , dry weather condition , followed by frigid , wet spells – can get your Belgian Cichorium endivia to bolt .

Some people opt to wait several week after the last Robert Frost for extra protection from any former outflow wonkiness . Whenever you plant , just make certain that you have enough meter for the heads to mature before a deep freeze come .

A close up vertical image of a ready to spray bottle containing Bonide Copper Fungicide pictured on a white background.

you could also imbed in early fall in quick region . Put seed in the ground about 100 days before the mediocre first freeze date in your field .

Pick a spot that receives full Lord’s Day , or plan to bring home the bacon some afternoon shade if you know somewhere that temperatures on a regular basis surge above 80 ° F in the heat of summertime .

Belgian endive should be space four to six inches asunder in rows 18 to 24 inches asunder .

A close up square image of the packaging of Mycostop Biofungicide pictured on a white background.

I seed more cum than I ’ll need and reduce them after a few calendar week to keep only the largest , most rich seedlings .

Keep the soil moist while the ejaculate are germinating and as the seedlings start to grow .

Seeds can germinate when air temperature are between 45 and 85 ° F , with 70 - 75 ° farad being idealistic . It takes them about a workweek to go forth when temperatures are close to idealistic .

A close up vertical image of a plastic bottle of Bonide Neem Oil pictured on a white background.

How to Grow

Once you ’ve acquire them in the primer coat , your most important job will be keeping your new plants watered well .

ensure the filth remain evenly moist , and remember that growth below priming coat is the most significant element during this form . As with other antecedent crop , if the soil dry out out it may cause the root to split .

It ’s a honest idea to head outside every mean solar day or so and test the moisture level of the soil by amaze your finger an in or so down . If the soil feels like a well - wrung out parasite , you ’re safe . If it feels siccative , supply water .

A close up vertical image of a small Belgian endive head growing on the top of a root after being forced and blanched in a dark location.

Water deeply but infrequently rather than frequently and shallowly . You want to boost the roots to arise deep and they ’re going to go where the water is . If moisture is only uncommitted in the top few inches , that ’s where the roots will need to stay .

From there , just ensure you ’re pulling up any weeds as you see them , and keep an eye out for signs of pests or disease ( more on that below ) .

Other than that , you could permit them do their affair for now . There ’s no need to add fertiliser as long as the soil was amended the right way when you implant .

A close up horizontal image of a creamy white Belgian endive cut in half set on a wooden surface.

To help the soil hold wet and to smother weeds , you may place an inch or two of straw mulch around your plants .

And again , think of that at this point , you ’re growing a root crop . The big top are merely there to course the roots . These are n’t perish to be particularly beautiful flora during this form , so do n’t worry if it looks like you ’re arise a force field of weeds .

Forcing Heads

As I mentioned , grow Belgian escarole is a two - step cognitive operation .

The first part involves letting the flora develop that long , carrot - like taproot . Once the radical has matured , it ’s metre to lead off the 2nd step , which is to pull up the root and cut the leafage off .

Then , you ’ll need to put the antecedent in a dark , cool location for about two months until a new , smaller head human body .

A close up horizontal image of witloof leaves stuffed with couscous, bacon, and vegetables pictured on a soft focus background.

Encouraging the attender head to grow during the 2d phase angle of growth is n’t complicated . After all , a farmer apparently discovered the process by barely doing anything at all , right ? But it is clip - consuming and it take a snatch of preparation .

To get this done , you are go to need to pull the root out of the dry land once they ’re mature , unremarkably after 80 - 140 days , depending on the cultivar .

You ’ll know it ’s clock time because the leaves will start to wrench red at the base and the roots will be large , about one and a half inches in diameter or more . Just brush the dirt and mulch off from the top of a ascendent to see how large it is .

A close up horizontal image of a frying pan filled with braised Belgian endive set on a white surface.

Keep an oculus on the conditions forecast , and check that to glean before a hard freezing set in .

Do n’t wait too foresighted to pull the plants up . If you do , they may run off and then you wo n’t grow that 2nd endearing school principal that you ’ve worked so hard for .

If the plant does go off , you’re able to still expend the base to make a java backup , so all is not misplace . But you wo n’t be able to enjoy any Belgian witloof .

A close up horizontal image of small bowls filled with Belgian endive heads set on a wooden surface at a market.

To harvest , habituate a fork to loosen the soil and wind up the flora , root and all . Be careful not to damage the roots because they ’ll be more prostrate to rot if they are damaged or fail .

Discard any small roots that are under an in in diameter . trim down any ascendant that have multiple forks down to have one key rootage .

You need a large base to spring up full - sized oral sex , so pocket-size or spindly roots wo n’t do .

Next , cut off the leaves to about an column inch above the top of the tooth root , and crop the source so that all of them are about the same distance , around six to eight in .

Then target them upright in a inscrutable planting container or bucket filled with a mixture of half damppeat mossand half Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin . The root should be arranged shoulder to shoulder .

I urge you use a five - gal credit card bucket filled about halfway . That way , you could well put a masking over the top .

Place in a glowering area where air temperatures are consistently around 32 - 36 ° F . This process is know as vernalization . A service department , greenhouse , or root cellar is commonly ideal .

Humidity around 95 percent is also ideal , but do n’t sweat the humidity too much . If you live in a dry region , overcompensate the container with plastic to keep on humidness .

Keep the grow intermediate moist but not soaking wet .

After a month , move the container to a warmer arena with temperatures around 50 - 66 ° atomic number 9 that is totally dark . Even a little light will make the head turn green and acrid . I use a closet , but a dismal cellar room or windowless bathroom could work , too .

Cover the plants with an opaque black scraps bag or tarpaulin , to keep out light and retain humidness and wet .

You should also keep an heart out for marauding mice . They ’ll seek to rust the roots and the develop heads . Again , using a mystifying bucket is advocate since mouse unremarkably ca n’t cower in there .

The heads should form in about three to four weeks . They might not be quite as compact and pretty as commercially - develop head word , but they ’ll be just as tasty and beautiful in their own right hand .

Growing Tips

Cultivars to Select

Many nurseries and garden supply store sell true species Belgian endive under the generic name of “ Belgian endive ” or “ witloof , ” rather than listing the specific cultivar .

Belgian Endive Seeds

you could find seeds in a diverseness of packet sizesavailable from True Leaf Market .

There are several named cultivars available that are deserving seek out , in addition to the true species plant .

Flash

This cultivar does n’t need filth for pressure .

rather , you’re able to place the roots shoulder to shoulder upright in a container and allow them to grow without bestow a pot medium . It make the whole procedure just a bit easier .

You ’ll still require to keep them damp by spraying them with water every few days , though .

‘ ostentation ’ is also speedy to suppurate , quick to force after 80 day .

Macun

‘ Macun ’ was bred by growers in Europe and has exceedingly dense heads with gold , somewhat bitter leaves . It ’s ready for initial harvest home after 125 days .

Roelof

This is another cultivar that does n’t involve soil for forcing . Roots are quick to reap in 100 days .

Totem

‘ Totem ’ is a Dutch variety with large head teacher and uniform ancestor . quick to compass up and effect after 115 days .

Witloof Bruxelles

‘ Witloof Bruxelles ’ is of Belgian descent . It ’s ready to drive in 110 days , and bring about uniform straits with an fantabulous , meek smack .

Managing Pests and Disease

As advert , Belgian endive is a close congenator of uncivilized chicory and dandelion . So long as you prep the soil in advance , this industrial plant is pretty tough . It does n’t succumb to pestilence or diseases too often .

Herbivores

Animals like cervid and lapin love to champ down on all of the plants in theCichoriumgenus . Even worse , some herbivore go after the precious tooth root . Here ’s what to keep an eye out for .

Deer will not only munch on the foliage , but they ’ll eat on the stem too , if they can reach them .

Fencing is your best optionfor hold these animate being out of your garden , but we have anentire guidewith other helpful advice .

black eye may be a trouble when you are storing the roots to force the novel head . They ’ll eat the develop head and nibble on the roots . Mouse droppings can also spread disease .

Use your favorite black eye controller alternative , whether that ’s your honest b computed tomography , eliminating debut stage , or humane black eye traps by CaptSure , useable at Amazon , to protect your treasured Belgian witloof .

Rabbits enjoy to chomp on the leaves . If they are just taking a nybble here and there , I ignore them . They wo n’t ache the flora enough to compromise the root , which is what we ’re concentrating on during the first phase of grow .

But if they jump decimating your plant , break out ourguide for tips on keep rabbits out of your garden .

While the other brute described here all tend to go for the foliage , field mouse ( not to be confused with groyne ) assail the treasured root .

These small chocolate-brown rodents are about the sizing of a golf ball and may or may not have a longsighted stern . You may not see the fauna themselves , but rather , the two inch wide of the mark tunnel that they create throughout the garden .

Voles love root word crops in general , and they also seem to prefer chicory plant . They ’ll often commence with the origin before work their way of life up to the leaves . That means you wo n’t agnise that your plants are damaged until it ’s too late .

You ’ll in all likelihood need a multi - fork-like overture to plow this creature . First , home lying in wait around where they travel . Then , collapse any tunnel you see using a shovel or tiller .

Then , give way out the repellents . I use two , one for repelling them from the garden place , and one for disgust them from the works themselves .

Bobbex - R Animal Repellent

Bobbex - R , which you canpurchase through Arbico Organics , can be spray near the tunnels and domain where field mouse wish to obscure , such as in sphere with 12 - inch or taller plants , or at the Qaeda of trees .

Bonide Repels - All can be sprayed straight off on your endives to keep voles away .

Bonide Repels - All

you may ascertain this productavailable at Arbico Organics .

Insects

While it is n’t too bountiful a deal if you have a niggling leaf damage from insect ( we ’re after the root ab initio , after all ) , plague also tend to spread out disease .

Plus , a large enough infestation can make roots to be stunted , which mean the 2d - circle growth will be smaller . Keep an center out for the following common pest :

Unless you have a monumental plague , aphidsaren’t that big of a pile on your Belgian witloof plant .

The problem is that these tiny insects ( badly , they ’re itty itty-bitty – about two millimetre long ) may spread disease , and they secrete a sticky substance that attractssooty mold .

There are thou of species of aphids , but the ones you ’ll most often encounter on escarole are immature peach aphids ( Myzus persicae ) , lettuce aphids ( Nasonovia ribisnigri ) , and plum aphids ( Brachycaudus helichrysi ) .

irrespective of the specific variety that ’s chowing down on your plant , the recommended treatment alternative are the same .

Your honest bet is to blast your Belgian endives with a strongspray of water from the hoseevery day for a week .

This will knock the insects away and most wo n’t return . If you demand a bit more firepower , mix a three percentage sweetheart Georgia home boy and water mixture , and spray plants every seven solar day until they are gone .

Like aphids , a few slugs and snails are no biggie . They typically wo n’t damage your flora enough to hurt the developing root .

But there are two situations where snail can be a problem :

The first is if the escargot set on your works when they are young . A athirst snail can devour a seedling in no time flat , and just like that , your plant is gone .

The other potential job is when you have a monumental approach , with snails eating all of the foliage on the plant life . This deprives the solution of nutrients .

In either case , you need to take activity before you lose your Belgian endives exclusively .

You canlearn how to control slugs and snails in our templet .

Once again , the biggest job with this pest is that it may spread disease , like tomato spotted wilt computer virus .

Thrips are small ( one millimeter long ) brown , tan , or scandalmongering insect that suck sap from the leaves and stem of plant life .

There are two common character that may bear on your crop , westerly flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis ) and onion plant thrips ( Thrips tabaci ) .

They cause discolor leave and silvery stippling . Leaves may curl up or have small whitish protuberance .

If you are n’t sure whether they are present or not , go outside with a piece of white composition and shake the folio of your plants .

You ’ll see piddling thrip fall onto the composition if you have an plague . You may also see black mite , which are the frass or dejection that they forget behind .

Reflective mulch is an effective method of control , as arefloating row cover . use the mulch after the folio have come forth and are about three inches tall .

you may also spray Belgian Cichorium endivia with a spinosad - based insecticide like Monterey ’s Garden Insect Spray .

Monterey ’s Garden Insect Spray

Arbico Organics carries this product , which you may apply to cake the leave-taking once every few weeks until the pests are gone .

In addition , you’re able to help avoid thrips in the first place by not planting your Belgian endive anywhere near plants in theonion family(thinkchives , leeks , garlic , bloom alliums , and so on ) .

Also avoid planting near cereal grains because thrips engender on these crops during the spring .

Read more about controlling thripid here .

Disease

Belgian endive suffers from many of the same disease that impact other leafy greens and chicory root .

Here are the most common ones to watch over for .

Sometimes call leaf spot fungus , ring spot , or shot hole , anthracnose is a fungal disease induce byMicrodochium panttonianum .

see out for small water - souse floater forming on the leaves of your plant . It usually start out on the outer foliage and on the bottom rather than the top .

As it come along , the spot turn yellow , may merge , and can rot , causing fix .

Now , I know what you ’re thinking … who care if plants march signs of this disease on leave of absence that you are n’t design on using anyway ?

The job is that if it progresses , this disease causes the leaves to die entirely and can deprive the root of nutrients so that it becomes stunt .

The fungus prosper in cool and crocked weather .

It can also go in the dirt , so do n’t plant lettuce or chicories in the same smirch more than once every three years .

You should also take care to water at the soil level rather than on the folio , since it can spread via splashing water .

Bonide Copper Fungicide

To treat anthracnose , spray the foliage with a liquid copper fungicide like this one from Bonide , available at Arbico Organics .

You ’ll need to spray the top and bottom of the leaves once a calendar week for a few week , until the spot is under control .

due to bacteria from theErwiniagenus , this disease attacks the roots of the plant .

Underneath the soil , the root will develop water - soaked lesion and offer that may ooze a slimy chocolate-brown liquid state . The lesions will eventually turn soft and rot .

Aboveground , the leaves may start to wilt or the flora will look stunted .

Unfortunately , there is no cure , so bar is critical . go around crops so that you are n’t growing anything in the Asteraceae family in the same place more than once every three years .

Also , check that you ’re planting in well - drain land . Mind right spacing recommendations and keep the garden weed - destitute .

Insects can also spread this disease , so keep infestation under mastery .

Most gardeners will encounter damping off at some compass point , and chicory plants are included among the many that can be impact by this disease .

It is propagate by metal money of class Oomycetes in thePythiumgenus and byRhizoctonia solani .

come will fail to emerge or seedlings will be washy , lank , and will have shank that seem to be water supply - soaked at the base , as well as waste roots . Eventually , the seedling will kick the bucket off or break down to prosper .

intervention wo n’t avail once an infection coif in , so it ’s important to prevent it from taking postponement in the first place . The pathogens that cause deaden off favor waterlogged dirt , so make certain your plants have secure drain .

Clean all of your tools with a 10 percent bleach and water solution before figure out with them . address seed with a mathematical product containing the beneficial bacteriaStreptomyces , which kills off the class Oomycetes that make the disease .

Mycostop Biofungicide

Arbico Organicscarries a product called Mycostop that contains this bacterium .

You mix it with weewee and soak the come for a half hour or so before plant .

Read more about deaden off here .

In plants in theCichoriumgenus , downy mildew is due to the water mould ( oomycete)Bremia lactucae .

This disease causes a muzzy white mold to organize on the underside of leafage . Young leaf may dry up and fall off , while older ace will thin out and turn papery .

It can be spread via weed and plant debris , which is why it ’s crucial to keep your bed clean .

Neem oil is effective for treating a mild outbreak , but you ’ll need something a bit more strong for a more severe problem .

Once again , copper fungicide is an effective treatment .

Neem rock oil can be combined with water and sprayed on the leaf of your Belgian endive plants .

Bonide Neem Oil

you may buy a dry quart or gal of pre - mixed neem crude , or a pint of dressed ore , from Arbico Organics .

Fusarium wilting , as you may have guessed , causes parting to droop and sag . They may also call on sensationalistic or you might see body of water - soaked lesion .

This fungal infection , caused byFusarium oxysporum , circularise through piddle . lachrymation on the leaves rather than the soil and planting in soil that drains badly creates the idealistic conditions for it to draw through your garden .

You should also revolve your crop to prevent the spread of this disease . Do n’t grow any type of chicory in the same place more than once every three years .

Make trusted to scavenge up your garden beds and bump off and dispose of any infected flora right away . Do n’t put them in your compost or you risk circularize this disease into the rest of your garden .

Harvesting

After about three weeks in the dark , you should have heads between five to eight inch tall . It ’s clip to slice them off at the base , using a sharp tongue or a pair of clippers .

Do n’t toss the root , though . If you leave them in plaza , they will send up yet another set of leave . They wo n’t be as large or compact as the first harvest , but they ’re still delightful .

Preserving

you’re able to hive away unwashed head in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to a week .

Like most greens , this plant does n’t preserve too well , and it ’s in effect to enjoy it while it ’s brisk . Still , if you have a large crop that you do n’t require to ware , youcanfreeze or pickle the leaves .

Freeze as you would spinach , by lavation and blanching the leave in hot water for three minutes . Dry them on paper towel and then put the leaves in resealable plastic bags in the deep-freeze .

To pickle , cut the leaves so that they ’ll check into your chosen jar . Bring one cup ashen acetum and a heaping tablespoon of sugar to a boil on the kitchen stove . permit the mixture cool .

Pack the jounce with leaves and fill with the vinegar and sugar solvent .

Add your preferred spice : If you like sweet relish , you might put in some sugar , cinnamon , saltiness , cloves , and cardamom . For savoury , use peppercorns , mustard seeds , cumin seed source , and embayment foliage . Play around to figure out what combo you wish best .

you may quickly roast the spices in a pan to unblock their bouquet or just discard them into the jar .

Store in your icebox , shaking the container every day , for a few weeks .

Recipes and Cooking Ideas

gall as a flavor has really do into its own in recent years . You ’d be hard - press to retrieve a bar that does n’t whisk up a killer negroni these days , and the bitter double IPA has surged in popularity .

Bitter dandelion , escarole , and kale are all regular features at many eating house . Belgian endive gives you yet another sulphurous smack to experiment with in the kitchen .

The leaves can be used anywhere you might utilize lettuce or cabbage , whether that ’s in a slaw or a salad . But I think Belgian endive is peculiarly tasty as a replacement for kale or spinach .

The leaves also make a gracious little loving cup to stuff with anything you’re able to imagine . Try laughingstock or depressed Malva sylvestris , walnuts , and bacon .

In Europe , Belgian Cichorium endivia is usually cooked . You absolutely must sample it drizzled with olive oil and roasted over an open flame . you’re able to also braise the head in a pan .

Here ’s a playfulness gift idea . If you plan ahead , clock it so that you ’ll have the forced heads just about ready to glean around the end of December .

Put the roots in bunches of six or so in decorative containers and fill up with the moxie and peat intermixture . Essentially , you ’re making smaller containers of root to force and blanch as we described above .

Then , during the holidays , you may give loved ace a container full of Belgian endive still attach to the base .

It ’s a earnestly telling gift that any foodie is going to rave about . I did this one year about a decade ago and people still talk about it .

Quick Reference Growing Guide

Dive into Growing Your Own Belgian Endive

Whew ! We made it ! I love grow Belgian endive is n’t incisively the nimble process , but it ’s so deserving it when you ’re ultimately digging your fork into a lovesome head of braised witloof that you acquire yourself .

arm with a lot of solitaire , the correct data , and a sense of adventure , you ’ll be harvesting your own crop in no fourth dimension .

Okay , well , not inno prison term , but in a few months , anyway .

Have you fallen in love with the idle universe ofchicory ? I do n’t blame you , they ’re delightful . If you need to get to roll in the hay and grow Belgian witloof ’s siblings , take a spirit at these guide next :

© postulate the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product exposure via Arbico Organics , Bonide , and dead on target Leaf Market . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .

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Kristine Lofgren