About
Cichorium endivia 'Natacha' features wide green leaves that form dense heads, complemented by creamy white centers. This variety is notable for its strong resistance to bolting during warmer months and can endure cooler temperatures, making it suitable for winter sowing and allowing mature plants to survive in regions with mild winters.
About the genus
Cichorium comprises both annual and perennial species characterized by loosely branching stems. The leaves are either toothed or pinnately lobed, and the plants produce dandelion-like flowers, typically blue, which tend to close by early afternoon during the summer months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun although midsummer crops will tolerate light shade. Mature heads can be blanched by covering for 10-14 days or young leaves can be harvested as a 'cut and come again' crop. See Grow Your Own guide to endive for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to slugs, snails and aphids
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free