Totem Belgian Endive

115 days to root, 30-40 days to blanch. Pale green leaves with white-yellow ribs. A bit challenging to grow, we include complete horticultural instructions with the shipment. It is best boiled; baked with sinful, cheesy sauces; fried or used as a healthy leaf in which to pipe soft cheeses and fillings as hors d'oeuvres. (OP.)

One packet of about 100 seeds

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#2850

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$6.75

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Information

Also known as Witloof Chicory, Belgian Endive has a bit of a bite to it, a great crunchy texture and pale green leaves with white-yellow ribs. Growing best in a deeply dug, enriched bed, the roots are dug up after about 120 days, replanted in a sandy medium and placed in absolute darkness for a month. Sprouting from the crowns of the dug roots, the 'chicons' have a mild flavor and are prized in European cuisine. Deer resistant.

Average seed life: 2 years.

Gardening Tips

Belgian Endive Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:12”
Plant Spacing:4”-6”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-70°F

Two weeks prior to the last frost date in spring, sow seed directly in deeply dug, fairly fertile, sandy and well-draining beds. Plant 1/4" deep, tamp down lightly and water gently. Thin 4" to 6" apart; weed well, water sparingly and let the plants get nipped by early frosts in fall. Before the soil freezes, dig up the roots, saving those that are at least 1" in diameter. Cut off all but 1" of the leafy tops. Trim the side roots, shorten the main root to 8" and replant in deep containers of dry soil, sand or hardwood sawdust. Store in a cold, dark place. When ready to force, bring containers into a dark room between 50°- 65°F, water lightly, cover with an upside-down plastic bucket and cover all with a black plastic bag. No light should reach the plants! After a month, "chicons" should form. If untreated roots start to sprout, begin blanching ASAP.

Forcing Chicons
This blanched delicacy needs to be grown similar to carrots until fall, and then it is dug up and forced in pots in darkness. Sow directly in deeply dug, fairly fertile, sandy and well-draining beds, 2 weeks before last frost. Plant ¼" deep, tamp down lightly and water finely. Thin seedlings 4 to 6 inches apart and keep well weeded until plants are established, water in drought conditions and let the plants get nipped by frost in the fall. After a few frosts and before the soil freezes, dig up all roots, keeping all that are at least 1 inch in diameter, and cut off all but 1 inch of the leafy tops. Trim side roots and shorten the main root to at least 8 inches and replant roots standing up into deep pots or buckets of dry soil, sand, or hardwood sawdust. Don’t water until ready to force and keep in a cold, dark place. When ready to force, bring plants into a cool room between 50 and 65 degrees F, water plants lightly and cover with another pot upside down and cover all with a black plastic bag. No light should reach the plants; so the sprouts or "chicons" will remain creamy white and mild flavored. The "chicons" may need to be watered while forming and should form within 30 days. This process can be repeated until all the roots are gone or the cold storage area becomes too warm and the roots start to sprout, at that time force the rest. If untreated roots start to sprout, begin blanching ASAP.

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties

Featured Recipes

Belgian Endive Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:12”
Plant Spacing:4”-6”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-70°F

Two weeks prior to the last frost date in spring, sow seed directly in deeply dug, fairly fertile, sandy and well-draining beds. Plant 1/4" deep, tamp down lightly and water gently. Thin 4" to 6" apart; weed well, water sparingly and let the plants get nipped by early frosts in fall. Before the soil freezes, dig up the roots, saving those that are at least 1" in diameter. Cut off all but 1" of the leafy tops. Trim the side roots, shorten the main root to 8" and replant in deep containers of dry soil, sand or hardwood sawdust. Store in a cold, dark place. When ready to force, bring containers into a dark room between 50°- 65°F, water lightly, cover with an upside-down plastic bucket and cover all with a black plastic bag. No light should reach the plants! After a month, "chicons" should form. If untreated roots start to sprout, begin blanching ASAP.

Forcing Chicons
This blanched delicacy needs to be grown similar to carrots until fall, and then it is dug up and forced in pots in darkness. Sow directly in deeply dug, fairly fertile, sandy and well-draining beds, 2 weeks before last frost. Plant ¼" deep, tamp down lightly and water finely. Thin seedlings 4 to 6 inches apart and keep well weeded until plants are established, water in drought conditions and let the plants get nipped by frost in the fall. After a few frosts and before the soil freezes, dig up all roots, keeping all that are at least 1 inch in diameter, and cut off all but 1 inch of the leafy tops. Trim side roots and shorten the main root to at least 8 inches and replant roots standing up into deep pots or buckets of dry soil, sand, or hardwood sawdust. Don’t water until ready to force and keep in a cold, dark place. When ready to force, bring plants into a cool room between 50 and 65 degrees F, water plants lightly and cover with another pot upside down and cover all with a black plastic bag. No light should reach the plants; so the sprouts or "chicons" will remain creamy white and mild flavored. The "chicons" may need to be watered while forming and should form within 30 days. This process can be repeated until all the roots are gone or the cold storage area becomes too warm and the roots start to sprout, at that time force the rest. If untreated roots start to sprout, begin blanching ASAP.

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties

Totem Belgian Endive

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