How to Grow Green Curled Ruffec Endive From Seed

How many days does Green Curled Ruffec endive take to grow?

A full, frilly rosette is ready in about 85 to 90 days from sowing. You can snip a few tender outer leaves earlier, but for the mildest heart, let it mature into cool fall weather and blanch it for two to three weeks before you cut the whole head.

How do you blanch Green Curled Ruffec endive to make it less bitter?

Two to three weeks before harvest, gather the outer leaves up over the center and tie them, or set a plate on top, to block light from the heart. The shaded center pales to a tender, nutty, creamy crown, which is what turns sharp garden frisee into the mild green you get in a good bistro salad. Blanch only dry plants so the covered leaves do not rot.

When should I plant Green Curled Ruffec endive?

It is at its best as a fall crop. Sow in mid to late summer so the rosette matures as the weather cools, which sweetens the leaves and reduces bitterness. You can also direct-sow in very early spring, but spring plants are more likely to bolt in summer heat, so fall sowings usually give the best frisee.

What does Green Curled Ruffec endive taste like and how is it used?

It has the frilly, faintly bitter bite of true frisee, mellowing to mild and nutty in the blanched center. It is the classic green for frisee aux lardons, tossed with a warm bacon vinaigrette and a poached egg, and is excellent raw in salads or wilted quickly into warm dishes. Its bitterness balances rich, salty, and sweet flavors beautifully.