Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a hero in both the kitchen and the garden. It is easy and fast to grow indoors to add a slight nutty taste to salads or sandwiches.
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Often seen in mixed salads or Mediterranean dishes, Endive (Cichorium endivia) packs a real flavour hit and good looks to boot! With its curly leaves and strong taste, it makes a real impact on your dishes and in your garden.
How to grow endive in a garden
- Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, cover, firm down and water well. Keep the soil moist so the seeds don’t dry out.
- While the seedlings are growing, choose a sunny spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. You can also sow direct into the garden bed once the soil has been enriched with organic matter.
- Once seedlings have emerged, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate. Allow seedlings to grow to about 4 - 6 cm before transplanting.
- When transplanting them into your prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are spaced at least 20 cm apart. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as pea or lucerne straw and water in well.
- Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to ensure strong root development and lush green leaves.
- Harvest the entire plant after 10 weeks or regularly harvest the leaves as they grow to add to your favourite salads.
How to grow endive in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300 mm wide and position in a sunny spot and protect from strong winds.
- Fill starter trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover and gently water. Keep the soil moist throughout germination.
- Once seedlings reach a height of 4 – 6 cm, fill chosen pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. Choose healthy seedlings and transplant into pot and water in well.
- Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to ensure strong root development and lush green leaves.
- Harvest the entire plant after 10 weeks or regularly harvest the leaves as they grow to add to your favourite salads.
Growing tips
- Endive leaves provide a slightly bitter tang to salads.
- If you are not fond of the bitterness, remove this by placing a thick layer of straw mulch or a large plastic pot over the leaves three weeks prior to harvest. This process is called blanching and will remove the bitter taste.
- It is a popular addition to Mediterranean salads and dishes.
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Recommended products
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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