Organic Curly Endive De Meaux- Vilmorin seeds - Cichorium endivia var. crispum

Cichorium endivia 'De Meaux' is a French variety that is particularly heat resistant. It produces large, generous, full-hearted rosettes of curled, crisp leaves. The leaves are delicious eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. Sow the seeds from April to July and harvest 3 months later.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is also known as endive chicory, narrow-leaved endive, or curly endive, without being a common endive in the usual sense. It comes from wild chicory, which is naturally found in meadows and along roadsides.

Curly endives have a rosette habit. They develop curly green leaves that are prettily cut. Some varieties need to be temporarily deprived of light to remove any bitterness, while others naturally blanch.

They are quite hardy, but are a little more sensitive to winter harshness than wild chicories. It is therefore advisable to provide protection such as a forcing net or tunnel, especially in colder regions.

In the garden, they thrive in moderately rich soil that is rather moist but well-drained.

The leaves are mainly consumed raw in salads, but can also be cooked in gratin, cream, or in béchamel sauce.

All chicories have detoxifying and mildly laxative properties.

Harvest: harvest as needed and as they grow.

Storage: they can be stored for a few days in a cool place after harvest.

Gardener's tip: regular hoeing and weeding are recommended. Mulching is advised in case of drought.

NB. Organic seeds (in French "AB" for "Agriculture Biologique") are produced from plants that are not treated with phytosanitary products (insecticides, weed killers). The seeds do not undergo post-harvest treatment. They carry the AB label and are approved by Ecocert, an independent body.