Endive, Organic (Olesh Tres Fine)

Botanical Interests Organic Olesh Tres Fine Endive Seeds

Also called frisée, endive's beautiful lacy leaves will turn ordinary lettuce salad into an upscale, bistro mesclun. The mild flavor blends well with other greens and the crisp, finely cut leaves add interesting texture. Use in the flower garden for an exquisite ornamental.

Sowing Information:

• Exposure: Full sun
• When to Sow Outside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, as soon as soil can be worked, or 8 to 10 weeks before your average first frost date. The ideal soil temperature for germination is 60°–70°F; soil temperature over 78°F halts germination.
• When to Start Inside: 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date; transplant outside 4 to 6 weeks after starting inside.
• Days to Emerge: 10–14 day
• Seed Depth: ⅛ inch
• Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6 inches in rows spaced 18 inches apart
• Thinning: When 1 inch tall, thin to 1 every 6 inches

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: Harvest in the morning and before temperatures get above 90°F. You might want to discard the outer leaves, as they tend to be more bitter than the inner leaves. Dunk plants in cold or ice water to cool, then drain before storing. The leaves can actually be harvested any time in a "cut-and-come-again" fashion; this is particularly good when seeds are sown too late in the spring, and warm weather is approaching quickly, threatening to cause plants to bolt. In fall, harvest after the first couple of light frosts; the flavor is actually improved with light frost. When plants are 6 inches across, the entire head can be cut at the base.