Height: 4 inches
Spacing: 8 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: (annual)
Description:
A small annual endive that is grown like lettuce and harvested for salads; smooth and deeply cut leaves have a frilly texture and a mild, slightly tart flavor that is great for mixes; sensitive to tip burn in hot weather; needs attentive care
Edible Qualities
Rhodos Endive is an annual herb that is typically grown for its edible qualities. The deeply cut narrow green leaves can be harvested at any time in the season. The leaves have a tart taste and a crisp texture.
The leaves are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Cooking
Planting & Growing
Rhodos Endive will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.
This plant is typically grown in a designated herb garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Rhodos Endive is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing the canvas against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
