Sugar Loaf Endive is a beautiful heirloom chicory variety prized for its sweet flavor, crisp texture, and exceptional cold tolerance. Often described as a green cousin to radicchio, this attractive plant forms compact upright heads similar in appearance to romaine lettuce while offering the unique flavor and hardiness of traditional chicories.
The elongated heads feature tender pale green leaves with tightly blanched creamy centers that become sweeter and milder as the plant matures. Its crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor make Sugar Loaf Endive a delicious addition to fresh salads, sandwiches, gourmet dishes, and cooked recipes.
This cool-season crop performs exceptionally well during fall and early winter gardens thanks to its impressive cold tolerance. Sugar Loaf Endive is easy to grow, highly productive, and matures relatively quickly, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
With its attractive upright heads, delicious flavor, and reliable garden performance, Sugar Loaf Endive is a standout addition to vegetable gardens, raised beds, market gardens, and homestead plantings.
Sugar Loaf Endive Seed Details
- Quantity: 200 Seeds
- Plant Type: Chicory / Endive
- Leaf Color: Light to Medium Green
- Flavor: Sweet, Crunchy, Mildly Bitter
- Growth Habit: Upright Compact Heads
- Cold Hardy: Yes
- Blanched Center: Yes
- Matures Quickly: Yes
- Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Soil Requirements: Rich, Well-Draining Soil
- Ideal Uses: Fresh Salads, Gourmet Dishes, Sandwiches, Raised Beds, Market Gardens, Homesteads, Cool Season Gardens, Fall Gardens
How to Save Seeds
Keep different chicory and endive varieties separated by at least 500 feet to help prevent unwanted cross-pollination and maintain seed purity.
Allow healthy Sugar Loaf Endive plants to fully mature in the garden until they produce flowering stalks and seed heads.
Once seed heads become dry and mature, cut them from the plant and place them into a labeled paper bag.
Hang the paper bag in a cool, dry location for approximately one week to allow the seeds to finish drying completely.
After drying, gently crush or rub the seed heads to release the seeds. Remove any remaining chaff or plant debris from the finished seeds.
Store seeds in airtight containers or paper envelopes in a cool, dry location away from moisture and direct sunlight. Be sure to label stored seeds with the variety name and harvest date for future planting seasons.
