Grow your own endive?

[bleeding green]

I have tried growing my own endive from seed but it looks nothing like the one I can buy from the green grocer. My one is more storky, with a big main stork up the middle and less leaves. The birds don't seem that interested in it.
When I buy it from the shop it doesn't have a main stork and is much more full. Usually the birds can't get enough of it.

Of course the one I am planting is a subspecies etc etc. The packet of seeds I use say that it is called 'Green Curled' Cichorium endiva. I have done a web search to see how many differant types there are and all I can find is that there are 2 'main' types. the first is green curled and the second is a broad leaf which is nothing like either of the two I mentioned above.
Back on to the green curled, differant websites show differant looking pictures for what they think green curled is. I did come across one call green curled ruffas which looked similar to the one I buy at the shop.

Is anyone knowledgeable in this area? I like growing my own stuff but when it turns out to be not what I wanted it's a waste of time and effort.

Thanks in advance.

[waynomelb]

I always use Endive, but i always buy Seedlings, they come in a pun-nett of 8 plants, i usually plant one every 4 to 6 weeks so i always have a constant supply. All of my birds love it.

I also tried it from seed once and it wasn't the same. A pun-nett is usually $2 to $3 from Bunnings and grows alot better in winter than summer.

[jusdeb]

Mine never makes it to full size , I start taxing it as soon as it starts curling .
Lasts for ages .
Grown from seed .
And yes the birds love it .

[bleeding green]

Wayno, is there a scientific name on the punnets? I've looked a few times at bunnings for seedling but they don't have any. I might try the nurseries. But because, liek you, I want a constant supply it's cheaper to grow my own from seed like I do with spinach. a packet of seeds costs the same or less then a punnet of 8 and you get about 700 seeds to a pack. I'll plant seeds in punnets a few weeks before I want to plant them and that way I've always got some on hand.

[bleeding green]

Deb do you know the name on the packet?

http://www.4seasonsseeds.com.au/epages/ ... END02-0001

The picture here looks like want I want, but the scientific name is what I've got and it doesn't grow anything like that. Mine never gets to that size without a stalk.
And correction on the first post, the addition to the name is ruffec. I wonder if this addition has anything to do with the differance or if it's just assumed if it's not there.

[Buzzard-1]

The last time I planted silver-beet the nursery gave me a punnet of sickly looking Kale never herd of it never tried it prior, it survived and the birds loved it go's in every year now.

[jusdeb]

Have a look at the instant garden beds at bunnings next time your there , they are compressed peat in a rectangle bag ...add water and it swells to become an instant garden bed .

Havent tried it yet am thinking of getting one tomorrow .

$20.00 each. Like a huge jiffy pot I suppose .

Got the seeds from ebay ....."king" something rings a bell . Lookie what I just found.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ENDIVE-Salad-Kin ... 1e578ecf55

[jusdeb]

I guess this variety looks like that when full grown , when young ( when I pick it ) it is lighter green like that you buy at the supermarket .

Mine doesnt get to form a head as such it just keeps growing as I pick it .

[bleeding green]

It looks like the one I'm after but with the name "Cichorium endivia" I'm concerned that it's the same as what I've got. For a measly 5 bucks it's worth trying if you say your birds eat it.

[jusdeb]

Ordered a couple of packets last night of ebay ...yeah give it a go , I was happy with it and like I said it can be picked very early .