When to sow endive? Master these conditions for good growth
Endive is also called bitter vegetable or dog-tooth lettuce. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant. The endive root is conical, extending straight down, with many fibrous rootlets. Endive is widely distributed and grown all over the world. It is suitable for eating raw, in cold dishes, or in soup.When to sow endive?What conditions must be met for it to grow well?
1. When is the best time to sow endive?
In northern regions, spring sowing is preferable; in southern regions, both spring and autumn sowing are suitable. However, to make use of idle winter fields and address the shortage of green forage in winter and spring, autumn sowing is better; in regions south of the mid-tropics, it can be sown in all four seasons. Because endive seeds have no dormant period, they can be sown for production in the same year they are harvested.
2. Growing conditions for endive
Endive prefers cool conditions, likes moisture and water, is fond of fertilizer, and is not tolerant of drought. It is relatively cold-tolerant and can be grown on hillsides, under forest, in fields, in open ground, or near water at elevations of 170-3200 m. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 15-17°C; the suitable temperature for seedling growth is 12-20°C; the suitable temperature for plant growth is 10-20°C. Growth is slow at 5°C, and it can still remain green through a short period of -10°C low temperature. Endive is suitable for planting in sandy or clay soil that is loose, rich in organic matter, and has good water and fertilizer retention, with a pH of 6-6.5, slightly acidic to neutral.
3. Key cultivation techniques for endive
1. Cultivation season: If facilities such as greenhouses, plastic tunnels, and shade cooling are used, planting can be arranged year-round according to market demand, achieving year-round supply.
2. Raising seedlings or direct sowing: The seedling-raising method for endive is basically similar to that for lettuce. Each mu of field requires 8-10 sq m of seedbed and 20-25 g of seed. Before sowing, the seedbed should be fertilized, and after sowing it should be covered to retain moisture so as to ensure full stands. Direct-sown plots require loose, fertile soil with convenient drainage and irrigation. Apply 3000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, plow deeply and harrow level, and make flat beds 2-3 m wide. When sowing, open shallow furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows and cover with fine soil. If the soil moisture is insufficient at sowing time, water first to build up moisture, and sow when the moisture is suitable. If the seeds can be pre-germinated before sowing, the effect of ensuring a uniform stand is even better. After sowing, keep the bed surface moist. After emergence, thin and finalize the seedlings in time; the suitable row and plant spacing is generally 25 x 15 cm. For seedlings raised for transplanting, the seedling age is about 30 days; transplant when there are 4-5 true leaves, with the same row and plant spacing as for direct sowing.
3. Field management: For seedlings transplanted with hole irrigation or furrow irrigation, after they recover from transplanting, give one thorough watering to help them establish. When field moisture is suitable, cultivate and loosen the soil to conserve moisture, promoting root development and leaf growth. On the basis of sufficient base fertilizer, apply as little chemical fertilizer as possible or none at all to endive to ensure its quality. For autumn and winter endive transplanted in sheds, as the outside temperature gradually drops, regulate the temperature by adding insulation equipment and ventilating, keeping it at 15-20°C during the day and around 10°C at night. For spring and summer endive, after transplanting the temperature gradually rises and sunlight intensifies, which is unfavorable for growth; cover with sheds, reed curtains, shade nets, etc. to lower the temperature, but uncover and cover flexibly according to weather conditions, and do not keep it covered all the time.
4. Harvest: Generally, it can be harvested 30-40 days after transplanting. For direct-sown crops, seedlings can be thinned and sold as the plants grow, to increase early yield. The general yield is about 2500 kg per mu.