Common Name: Endive

General Information

Cichorium endivia is an erect, annual to biennial plant growing up to 170cm tall. When young, the plant forms a rosette of leaves about 30cm tall, producing a central, branched stem when it flowers and sets seed. The plant has a thick taproot[].
The plant is often cultivated, mainly in the temperate zones of Europe and N. America, for its edible leaves. It is sometimes grown in the tropics as a substitute for lettuce.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Probably originating in the eastern Mediterranean region, the plant is only known from cultivation.

Habitat

Rocks and sand by the sea[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Self, Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Originating in the warm temperate to subtropical zone, Endive can also be grown in cooler areas of the temperate zone and into the tropics, though it generally does best there at elevations above 400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 23°c, but can tolerate 5 - 30°c[]. Older plants can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 300 - 2,500mm[]. It usually require long days for flowering and rarely flowers in the tropics - although there are reports of flowering at elevations above 1,500 metres in the tropics, probably helped by the lower temperatures there[].
Prefers a sunny position[] but with light shade in hot weather to prevent plants running to seed[]. Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[]. Prefers a medium to light sandy or gravelly soil that is rich in humus[, , ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.8, but tolerates 5.3 to 8.5[].
Leaf yields can vary from 4 - 20 tonnes per hectare[].
There are many named varieties, these falling into three basic groups:-
Batavian Group. (also known as Escarole Group, Scarole Group or var. Latifolium). This form has broad, almost entire, rather flat leaves, forming a loose head; some well-known cultivars are 'Batavian Broad-Leaved', 'Escarole', 'Deep Heart Fringed', 'Growers Giant' and 'Géante maraîchère'[].
Curled-leaved Group (also known as Curled Endive Group, Frisée Group or var. Crispum). This form has narrow, deeply pinnatifid, strongly curled leaves, forming a loose head; some well-known cultivars are 'Salad King', 'Green Curled', 'Frisée de Ruffec' and 'Grosse Pancalière'[].
Cutting Group (also known as Small Endive Group, Endivia Group or var. Endivia). A form with very small leaves that do not form a head; cultivars belonging to this group are hardly grown anymore[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , , , ]. Leaves of wild plants are very bitter but there are many named forms with only a slight bitterness[]. The leaves are quite large and often form a rosette like cabbages. They are very easy to harvest. Endive makes a very acceptable addition, in moderate quantities, to the salad bowl, though the leaves are too bitter for most tastes to be used as the main salad leaf[]. The leaves are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) in order to reduce this bitterness[], though this process also reduces the nutritional value of the plant[].

Medicinal

The plant is used as a resolvent and cooling medicine, and in the treatment of bilious complaints[]. It has a similar but milder effect to chicory (Cichorium intybus) and so is a very beneficial tonic to the liver and digestive system[].

The root is demulcent and tonic[]. It has been used in the treatment of dyspepsia and fevers[].

The fruit (this probably means the seed[]) has been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, bilious complaints and jaundice[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ early to mid July for an autumn and winter crop and up to mid August for succession. Seedlings can be transplanted[]. Successional sowings can also be made from mid spring onwards for a summer crop though these plants are liable to bolt in hot weather or if there is a cold snap in late spring[, ].