We love the flavour of this très fine, frisée endive as much as its amazing uniform growth. The green outer edges of the rosette have a mature, bitter flavour that matches perfectly with the succulent and sweet blanched interior leaves.
The petioles are thick, with high moisture content, and have that wonderful taste that complements hot oil dressings. Benefine is compact and upright, with well-filled heads that are bolt resistant. The plants are frost hardy for fall growing, but also do well in warm weather, with high resistance to tipburn.
Timing: Sow after the last frost date and again in mid-summer to take advantage of the fall growing season. Optimal soil temperature: 10-22°C (50-72°F). Seeds sprout in 2-15 days, depending on conditions. In hot weather plants may go to seed quickly, so have new plantings ready to go.
Starting: Either direct seed or start indoors and transplant. Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep, and thin or transplant to allow 30-45cm (12-18″) between plants in rows 30-45cm (12-18″) apart.
Growing: Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Enrich soil with compost and add ¼ cup balanced organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Rapid, continuous growth is essential for good yields and high quality. Regular watering is essential. Fall plantings can be protected from rain by putting a cloche over them. Endive heads can be blanched to reduce bitterness by placing a cardboard or plastic disc on top. Radicchio requires a good supply of phosphorus and potassium, but will not head and may bolt if there is too much nitrogen available. Days to maturity shown are from date of direct sowing. If transplanting, subtract 10-15 days.
Harvest: Use as a cut and come again crop or let the heads develop and cut at ground level. Many will grow back.
Diseases & Pests: Aphids – Water can be used to remove aphids from plants. Wash the plant off with water occasionally as needed early in the day. Moulds and rot from heavy rains can be prevented by growing under cover. Tip burn is a calcium deficiency within the plant that can be caused by an imbalance with over nutrients. Make sure to add lime to the soil, do not over-fertilize, and harvest just before full maturity.
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