The outside leaves of an endive head are green and bitter. The inner leaves of the endive head are light green to creamy-white and milder flavored. It is most popular in France, Belgium and Holland. In the U.S., chicory is grown for the green leaves which are used as a salad green and for the thick roots which are used in the southern U.S. as an additive flavor to coffee and sometimes as a coffee substitute. Culture - Endive is grown like lettuce.
Seed is sown in early spring in the garden.
Plants can be started in the greenhouse and transplanted to the garden for growing and extra early crop. Chicory for greens is grown much the same way. For chicory greens, seed is planted in early spring and the leaves are ready for harvesting in about 60 days. The greens are often blanched by clipping the leaves together when they are about ten inches long. Roots for producing Witloof chicory are grown this way.