Cichorium endivia

Semillas de Cichorium endivia (endivia) para hojas de ensalada crujientes y suavemente amargas. Variedades de frisée rizada y escarola de hoja ancha que prosperan en climas frescos y se blanquean fácilmente.
Best selling Best selling

Cichorium endivia — endive

Cichorium endivia is the botanical name for endive, a leafy salad crop in the daisy family (Asteraceae) grown for its crisp, pleasantly bitter leaves. It is the species behind our endive range and a close cousin of chicory, with which it shares the genus Cichorium.

History & origin

Endive has been cultivated around the Mediterranean since antiquity and was well known to the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who valued its bitter leaves both as food and as a tonic. It spread through Europe in the Middle Ages and became especially popular in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, where the broad-leaved escarole and the finely cut frisée types are kitchen staples. The genus name Cichorium comes from the classical name for these chicory-like plants, while endivia traces back through Latin to a word for the crop.

Botanical characteristics

Endive forms a low, spreading rosette of leaves rather than a tight head. There are two main groups: curly-leaved frisée, with finely divided, frilly foliage, and broad-leaved escarole (also called Batavian), with smoother, sturdier leaves. The hearts are often blanched by covering them, which softens the natural bitterness into a milder, nuttier sweetness. Like its relatives it is fast and easy in cool weather and sits comfortably among our fresh leafy greens.

Growing Cichorium endivia from seed

Endive thrives in cool conditions and is ideal for late summer and autumn salads when many other leaves have bolted. Sow direct or in modules, thin to give each plant room to spread, and keep the soil moist for tender growth. To reduce bitterness, blanch the hearts a couple of weeks before harvest by tying the outer leaves up or covering with a plate. Our vegetable growing guide covers the basics, and the vegetable sowing calendar shows the best windows for a steady supply.

Ready to grow your own crisp salad leaves? Browse the varieties below.

Related categories: Endive · Chicory · Fresh Leafy Greens · Lettuce · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la endibia y la achicoria?
Ambas pertenecen al género Cichorium. La endibia (Cichorium endivia) se cultiva por sus rosetas de hojas rizadas o anchas para ensalada, mientras que la achicoria (Cichorium intybus) incluye el radicchio, la achicoria sugarloaf y los tipos de forzado. Descubre la achicoria para ver la gama relacionada. ¿Cómo puedo reducir el amargor de la endibia?
Blanquea los corazones durante una o dos semanas antes de la cosecha atando las hojas exteriores o cubriendo la planta, lo que impide el paso de la luz y hace que el centro quede más pálido, suave y dulce. ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la frisée y la escarola?
La frisée tiene hojas finamente recortadas y rizadas con una textura delicada, mientras que la escarola (bataviana) tiene hojas más anchas y lisas, más resistentes y aptas tanto en crudo como cocinadas. ¿Cuándo debo sembrar endibia?
La endibia da mejores resultados como cultivo de finales de verano y otoño, sembrada desde principios de verano, cuando las temperaturas frescas evitan que espigue.