If you're looking for a new variety of endive to grow in your garden, I recommend the Catalogna Garnet. It's a beautiful plant with dark green, deeply cut leaves and garnet stems. The flavor is good, not at all bitter, but it's also mild, not overpowering. The leaves are also very tender. I've found that it pairs well with the Catalogna Emerald variety. If you leave it in the ground long enough, the leaves will sweeten after the first frost. This endive is a member of the chicory family. Chicories are biennials, so they produce leaves the first year and flowers the second year. However, if you overwinter them, you can get a second harvest of leaves the following spring.
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How to Save Seeds
Endive will cross pollinate so separate from other endive by at least 500ft. First, you'll need to let the endive plant go to seed. This means allowing the plant to remain in the ground until it has flowered and produced seed heads. The seed heads will be ready for harvest when they turn brown and dry out. Once the seed heads are dry, you can harvest them by cutting them off the plant and placing them in a paper bag. Label the bag with the date and the name of the plant so that you don't forget what's inside. Next, you'll need to remove the seeds from the seed heads. This can be done by rubbing the seed heads between your hands or by gently crushing them with a rolling pin. Be sure to remove any debris or chaff from the seeds. Finally, store the seeds in a cool, dry place until you're ready to use them. You can store them in a paper envelope or a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Just be sure to keep them away from moisture and direct sunlight.
