Description
Belgian endive is a compact, cylinder-shaped lettuce with tightly-packed, pale yellow leaves that have slightly curled edges. Its length is around 6 inches. Similar to mushrooms, it is grown slightly beneath the soil in dark spaces, where it is moderately bitter to preserve its delicate flavor.
Varieties
The curly-leaved, or narrow-leaved, and the Batavian, or broad-leaved, endive (latifolia), endive (crispa), are the varieties of this vegetable.
Uses
In general, the former utilization is for salads and the latter for cooking.
Nutrition
Thiamin, calcium, potassium, vitamins B6, magnesium, and C, folate, and copper are all nutrients found in Belgian endive.
Cultivation
The soil should be rich, bright, well-drained, and not shadowed for the plant. Late in the growing season, it behaves like a biennial. The plant’s outer leaves are tied together or covered about three months after planting to block light. By doing this, the development of the naturally bitter flavor is stopped.
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