Endive/Escarole 'Bubikopf'

'Bubikopf' is a popular and reliable variety of broad-leafed endive, also known as escarole, which is particularly well-suited for autumn and winter harvests in the UK. This variety produces large, dense heads with thick, succulent, slightly crumpled leaves. The inner leaves are naturally blanched and have a milder, less bitter flavour than the outer green leaves. 'Bubikopf' is valued for its excellent cold tolerance and its resistance to bolting, making it a more dependable crop for the UK's late-season salad production. It can be used raw in salads for a pleasant bitter crunch or cooked similarly to spinach. To further reduce bitterness, many gardeners tie the outer leaves together for a week before harvest to blanch the heart. Sowing in late summer provides a gourmet green when many other salad leaves have finished. It is a robust and attractive plant for the kitchen garden.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moisture-retentive, fertile soil.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.