Escarole Grosse Bouclée Bovary plants - Cichorium endivia var. latifolium

Cichorium endivia var. latifolium Grosse Bouclée Bovary is a variety resistant to seed production. It is cultivated for its whole and crunchy leaves, which naturally whiten. They are gathered in a beautiful dense and abundant rosette that is consumed raw in salads.

This Chicory is a vegetable plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It bears the Latin name Cichorium endivia latifolium, and is also known as Wide-leaved Endive (without being a common endive), White Chicory or Escarole. It comes from wild chicory, which is found naturally in meadows and along roadsides.

Scarole Chicories have a rosette habit and fairly large, undulate green leaves. The heart is white, slightly bordered with yellow. Some varieties need to be temporarily deprived of light to soften the heart and remove any bitterness, while others naturally whiten.

They are quite hardy but are a bit more susceptible to winter harshness than wild chicories. Therefore, it is advisable, in particularly cold regions, to provide protection such as a forcing cover or tunnel.

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

Scarole Chicory leaves are mainly consumed raw in salads, but can also be cooked in juice, gratin, cream, braised, or in béchamel sauce.

All chicories have tonic, purifying, and slightly laxative properties.

Harvest: Chicories are harvested as needed and according to their growth.

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

Gardener's tip: Regular hoeing and weeding are recommended, and mulching is advised in case of drought.

Note: Please note that our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively avoided.