July 12, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
25 
E ndive is extensively grown in this country, but principally 
in private gardens. As far as the markets generally are 
concerned these are not well supplied with this serviceable winter 
salading, and I believe much that reaches Covent Garden is grown 
in France. Should a tradesman in a provincial town have an 
order for Endive, he, as a rule, has to send to London for it, 
whereas he ought to be in a position to supply it perfectly fresh 
and good at a short notice. As yet, then, we are not a nation of 
Endive eaters, but there is no good reason why we should not 
become so, or, at any rate, greatly improve in that respect. It is 
my firm belief that Endive would soon become a necessary article 
of diet among the middle classes, being in winter what the Lettuce 
is to many persons in summer. Well grown, perfectly blanched 
and fresh, Endive is nearly as crisp as the best Lettuce, and could 
be eaten in the same way—that is to say, either in a mixed salad or 
served separately. The slight bitterness noticeable ought to 
recommend it rather than otherwise, and I think no mistake can 
be made about the wholesomeness and appetising character of the 
plant. Hundreds of private gardeners who sell their surplus 
produce, as well as many market growers, should at once take 
steps towards supplying the provincial towns with Endive, and 
once it is found that this excellent salading can be had constantly, 
or as often as desired, throughout the late autumn and winter 
months, the demand for it would increase rapidly. Good Endive 
ought to sell readily at Is. per dozen wholesale, sometimes realising 
still more, and would not cost more than a third of that sum to 
produce. In my case it is treated as a “ snap ” crop, making no 
appreciable difference to the labour bill, and not interfering with 
the growth of more important crops. 
While good Lettuce is available the demand for Endive is 
certain to be of limited extent, but directly the former fails to 
blanch well, then the latter becomes a very welcome adjunct to the 
salad bowl. If seeds of the Green Curled and Improved Broad¬ 
leaved Batavian forms are sown about the middle of July very good 
plants, extra fine in fact, would be ready for use by the beginning 
of October, a portion of this crop being also stored or otherwise 
protected for later use. Yet another sowing should be made about 
the first week in August, and it is this crop that ought principally 
to be stored for late winter or early spring use. But little is 
gained by growing Endive extra large ; indeed, there is no 
encouragement in so doing, prices for the very best not being 
enhanced proportionately. Medium-sized, well-blanched hearts are 
what pay best, and these may be grown somewhat thickly, especially 
if the blanching is carried out where the plants are established. 
Borders that suit early Potatoes will usually grow Endive to 
perfection, and these positions are very convenient for boarding 
round and covering with lights or other protecting material. Such 
sites not being available of sufficient extent, then there is no reason 
why a position in the open should not be selected. 
The principal condition is that the ground chosen for Endive 
should have been well manured for the preceding crop, and be 
further made in a free working, finely divided state. Very heavy, 
lumpy ground, will not do. I have in bygone days been under the 
necessity of opening shallow, spade-wide trenches, and filling these 
with light soil obtained principally by sifting potting bench 
rubbish, decayed turf, and old Mushroom bed manure. Under 
No. 733.—VoL, XXIX., Third Series. 
such conditions Endive succeeded admirably, the plants being 
either raised where they were to grow, or planted out from 
a seed bed. In very cold, low-lying positions, either raised beds, 
such as Asparagus is grown in, or artificially formed banks with a 
good slope to the south, will grow Endive well and be found very 
serviceable for forwarding Lettuces or other early crops the follow¬ 
ing spring. If a start is made later than the above mentioned date, 
then ought the seeds to be sown where the plants are to remain in 
drills 12 inches apart, but when sufficient ground is not at liberty 
it is a good plan to sow the seeds on part of a border, either broad¬ 
cast, or in shallow drills drawn 6 inches asunder, distributing them 
somewhat thinly in either case. When the seeds have to be sown 
in dry weather the drills or bed should be well moistened in 
advance. 
When the seedlings appear they must be protected from slugs 
by means of occasionally dusting them with soot and lime. Very 
lightly thin out the plants at first, and when they are about 
4 inches high they are quite strong enough for transplanting. 
Raise them with a pointed stick so as not to break the roots to a 
needless extent, and replant with a dibber, making the soil firm. 
Moistening the ground before lifting the plants, their fresh sites 
als3 being watered in advance, is a desirable proceeding in dry 
weather, and if the plants are eventually left or put out about 
10 inches asunder in the rows they will grow large enough. 
Certainly they would well cover more ground, especially if planted 
early ; but as before stated it does not always pay to grow extra 
large Endive. Where seed beds are formed it is a wise plan to 
leave some plants in these about 6 inches asunder, and these, 
without any further trouble, will quickly attain a good size and 
by pressing against each other also prove self-blanching. The 
principal breadths must be looked after rather closely for a time. 
The plants may need protecting from slugs in showery weather or 
watering occasionally when it is dry. Weeds as a matter of course 
must be kept under. 
Small Endive plants are fairly hardy, but those fully grown 
are most susceptible of injury from frosts. As a rule it is not till 
November that protection is needed, but it is well to have some 
thing in readiness to save them before that month. Market 
growers usually have a number of lights at liberry in the autumn, 
and these with a few stakes and boards for the ends and sides are 
sufficient protection in all but severe weather, when mats or litter 
will be further needed. Failing glazed lights use lengths of 
galvanised iron, shutters, and such like, only these must be taken 
off in t':e daytime when the weather permits. These again will 
not be sufficient protection from severe frosts, corrugated iron in 
particular affording very slight protection indeed. Those crops 
grown more in the open, and which are not so conveniently placed 
for roughly protecting, should be lifted in October, or not later 
than the first week in November, and replanted somewhat closely 
in pits, frames, or placed on the floors or borders in vineries or 
Peach houses. Not much soil need be removed with them, 
and I prefer to replant not in fruit borders, but on the top in 
rather good added soil. In pits and frames I sometimes replant in 
ashes, which are kept moist, and it is surprising how well the plants 
are supported. Sametimes Endive is transplanted to sheds, but it 
does not keep so well in these as in lighter structures. It is not 
wise to be constantly slopping water on the plants, but dryness at 
the roots should never be tolerated. 
Well grown Endive is very easily blanched to perfection, but 
plants that are only about half grown cannot be done much with at 
any time. It must also be borne in mind that when once the 
hearts are blanched they do not keep long afterwards. If the.' 
plants in the open are tied up much as Lettuce is done when they 
fail to fold in properly, and be further enclosed in inverted flower 
pots, blanching will be rapid and perfect. Laying either boards 
or slates over a short row will also be the means of quickly 
blanching the hearts ; but in the case of those enclosed in rough 
No. 2389 .—VoL. XCI., Old Series. 
