Botanical Name: Cichorium endivia, C. intybus
Days to Maturity: 15–25 days
Family: Asteraceae
Native: Africa, Europe, Asia
Hardiness: Annuals
Variety Information: As microgreens, tiny, green leaves with slightly bitter flavor.
When to Sow Outside: Not recommended. Microgreens are fragile, and outside soil makes them difficult to clean.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. Sow indoors any time of year. For a continual crop, sow every 7 to 14 days.
Days to Emerge: 7–10 days
Seed Depth: ⅛"–¼"
Seed Spacing: ¼"–½"
Thinning: Not required
Harvesting: When seedlings emerge, the first pair of leaves to show are the cotyledons, which can look very different from the leaves that follow, called "true" leaves. Microgreens are ready to harvest when they have cotyledons, or when the first true leaves have begun to form, depending on preference. Cool growing temperatures may slow the expected amount of days to maturity. Using scissors, cut microgreens just above the soil line when you are ready to use them.
