Cultivation

Endive Greenhouse Cultivation

Cichorium endivia L.

Growing endive in protected ground requires leaf blanching to reduce bitterness and strict control over light and temperature regimes to prevent premature bolting.

In the reference 32 varieties crop Endive, where this is mentioned in the description.

The technology for cultivating endive in protected ground includes an mandatory leaf blanching stage 2–3 weeks before harvest, which is achieved by tying the rosette or covering it with opaque materials. In doing so, it is critically important to maintain a ventilation regime to avoid leaf rot due to high humidity inside the formed bunch.

Endive is a long-day plant; therefore, during cultivation, it is necessary to control the duration of lighting and temperature, as their excess provokes bolting. The optimal temperature regime for plant development is about 12°C, while seedlings require values of 16–18°C.

With intensive greenhouse technologies, the planting density is 8–10 plants per 1 m². The crop is characterized by a growing season of 85–100 days and increased requirements for mineral nutrition, necessary for the formation of a dense rosette weighing from 350 to 700 g.