Endive (Cichorum endivia), also known as endive, is a variety of escarole or chicory. It is a plant that is characterized by its bitter taste, but its tender and fine texture. It is usually used in salads or to prepare easy and healthy savory entrees. In addition, its leaves and root help calm an upset stomach and lower fever.
There are two types of endive: the wild type, which can be grown outdoors, or the one obtained using the “Witloof” method, which consists of preventing light from reaching it so that it turns white and less bitter.
In this note you can learn how to grow them to harvest them yourself, in your own home!
In addition, endives are made up of almost 95% water, being recommended in cases of low-calorie diets. They also contain fiber, which helps regulate intestinal transit; they have minerals such as calcium; they are rich in beta carotene, with antioxidant and anticancer properties; they contain potassium, helping to regulate hypertension, and they have tannins and other flavonoids that protect against degenerative diseases, among other properties.
How is the cultivation process?
1. As chicory reproduces by seeds, the first thing you should do is bury them in well-fertilized, stone-free soil, in rows, at a depth of up to 20 centimeters. Water and try to keep weeds away.
Note: Keep in mind that planting time is from mid-winter to late spring.
2. From the plants you will get leaves (which you can use for salad after bleaching their leaves by covering them from sunlight), and a root that you must bury in a pit about 50 centimeters deep, when summer comes, and cover it straw or opaque plastic. From 30 to 50 days later you will have white and tender buds.
There is also another technique called “forcing”. In this method, once collected, the roots are placed together in large, deep containers with a loose substrate. They are watered and placed in a dark place, covered by opaque plastic. After a month, tender buds will have sprouted that you can consume.
The roots that you do not remove from the ground produce a second bud, although it is not of such quality.
You can eat your endives both boiled and raw, accompanied, for example, with yogurt sauce and black olives.
Enjoy them!