Curled Endive De Ruffec

Curled Endive De Ruffec — variety description

Curled Endive De Ruffec (Cichorium endivia) is an annual vegetable of the Asteraceae family. Dark green curly endive with very fine leaves and creamy white leaves in the centre.

A very productive variety with a plant size of 40-45 cm.

An heirloom variety known and used since 1865 onwards.

Endive (curly and escarole) is a slightly bitter, crisp salad leaf for autumn, hardier to cold than lettuce.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 92%
• Seeds per packet: 552–748 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: March and April; direct or as seedlings
• Harvest: August – December
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Curled Endive De Ruffec

Curled Endive De Ruffec seeds are sown in March and April. Harvest in August – December. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Curled Endive De Ruffec

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 0.5 cm
• Spacing: 30 cm
• Germination: 5–10 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Transplanting is done at the beginning of July, in nursery beds, shallowly as with lettuce, at a spacing of 40/30 cm, followed by watering with running water. After that, care consists of regular watering, hoeing and 1-2 feedings with mineral fertilisers. The heart of the rosettes must not get wet, to protect the plants from rotting. When the rosettes reach their normal size, about ten days before harvest the leaves are blanched, which reduces their bitterness. To do this, the leaves are gathered upward and tied at the top. So that the leaves do not break, they are tied in two stages: the first time the leaves are lifted halfway, and a week later they are gathered in and tied up fully.

Sow in June–August for an autumn harvest. Blanch the heart by tying the leaves 2 weeks before harvest.

Harvest and use

Harvest whole heads in autumn.

Frequently asked questions

When should Curled Endive De Ruffec be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 552–748 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 92%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.