3 . In recent fall carefully dig up the roots
You may read on - line that Belgian Endive is grown hydroponically , but this is wrong . Commercial raiser battleground raise their descent , harvest the tap source cautiously ( like carrots ) and then ether store them dark and dry , or they set them into crates or special containers where they then are hydroponically force .
At nursing home , this is unnecessary . All one involve to do is to cautiously dig out roots just before a hard frost ( around here , this is near Halloween but could be as previous as mid November ) . Roots must be repot unless one has a right root basement in which to store them until they are ready to hale , but who has a root cellar ? For the average family grower , the ancestor only need a turn of pre - handling to prepare them for hale . The thin pourboire of the roots can be trimmed , but only to allow them to fit into the forcing container – one want the top to sit at the same stature .
The forcing container can be any deep container , a abstruse 5 gallon nursery pot , a bakehouse bucketful , an orange Home Depot bucket , or a deep mud long - Uncle Tom . If your roots are branch , cut back them down to a single root ( a dual one is OK ) . reduce the leafage off of the top ( a ‘ pilus cut ’ to about an inch forth from the crown ) , and then set the roots shoulder joint - to - shoulder tight together in your container . The medium can be shrill sand ( something that drains well ) , vermiculite or potting soil – I use sterile Pro - Mix commercial potting soil .
The roots should extend about an inch above the Earth’s surface , perhaps a bit more . Do n’t concern , they wo n’t look very hopeful at this stage , but believe me , magic will pass soon . weewee slightly , one only want damp medium , as the roots wo n’t require much H2O as you will require to keep them cold , and one will want to avoid decay .
4 . Vernalize roots for one month in stale temps
I store my potted stem in the greenhouse under the bench where it is cold ( near 45 degrees ) but you may find that a cold , dark place in the garage or cellar will work better . If you may not find oneself a cold place , you should wash the roots off and keep them in the crisper drawer wrapped in newspaper until ready to force . A few weeks of cold will aid vernalize them , which is necessary for proper chicon production . Chicons are what the French call the golden white buds we all bed as Belgian Endive .
Some people salt away their unwashed root in a cold shed or garage under gunny bags or in a wooden loge with soil in it . Much like draw Dutch bulb , the roots need a bit of cold to think that they have go a wintertime and that it is time to grow again .
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