Growing & Forcing Belgian Endive *my first attempt!

This video shows you the extra steps required to grow Belgian Endive. A similar blanching (forcing) process is also used for treviso tardivo too.
I definitely want to try it again, and find a better darker spot that averages about 50* F, and grow it in a sunnier bed with only 3 rows per bed at 6'' spacing. Overall, they stored really well in the cooler, some keeping well into springtime (may----a full 1 year since they were seeded!). The stored roots were not washed before storage, just dusted off and put in lidded totes.
During the forcing I think i would have liked to crowd the roots a little less, and figure out some sort of separator so the greens could grow wider and not taller.
👩‍🌾 Kat The Farmer LLC
Floyd County, Virginia (Zone 7)
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ABOUT: Kat Johnson began learning about organic farming in 2005, as a high school intern on an organic farm in California. Since then, she has worked on ten organic vegetable, urban, and livestock farms in four states and gotten her hands dirty in all aspects of farming operations from hauling water, to management, sales. In 2021 she began designing her own ‘Farmlet’ In Floyd County and went full time as Kat The Farmer growing salad-centric crops along with creating value added products. Kat believes in transparency in growing practices, and in creating a community of growers that can share information so that we all succeed in creating more resilient farms, food systems, and the communities they support.

[@upupandaway5646]

Great job❤

[@rickschuman2620]

Love seeing the end results now I’m hungry ❤️🙏👨‍🌾

[@katthefarmer]

Yay, thats the desired outcome!

[@danielyoder6296]

Kat, excellent report, thank you for you education! I am wondering what variety of Belgian Endive you used and if you are still planning on trying some Tardivo this winter? Our new BINGO variety is so much better than the old TOTEM. I hope you can give it a try and we would be happy to send you sample if you are still doing B.E. this year

[@katthefarmer]

I'd consider sneaking it in for another attempt! This was mostly totem and the variety from Seeds of Italy. Lets chat and see what you've got?

[@mw6213]

gorgeous salad! what do you have in there other than the endives?!

[@katthefarmer]

Oh Thanks! I think that had some spinach, endive, tardivo, dill in there. Cold hardy greens have so much good flavor!