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hi all

i am growing a few thing i've never grown before and although i keep looking at them i really don't know what to do with them.  when are they ready or how to cook them

the chicory i'm growing looks like a lettuce and i thought it would be more pointed and firmer, when do i cut this and whats the best way of cooking it :P

Endive is just coming through, (on some internet sites it says chicory and endive are the same thing) :-[

Also growing mibuna and shungika, again i have no clue as to when to cut it and how to cook it

sorry bout all questions but i really am clueless :(

hiya, jokey..we take the mibuna and shungika as well as the other oriental veg we grow as and when we want them, usually about 4 to 6 inches high, just take the leaves you want, they'll come back..can't tell you about the chicory/endive yet, it's our first year growing them, too  :)

Endives are salad type plants in the chicory family. There are several different types of chicory - it depends what sort you are growing.

With some chicory (eg witloof) you dont eat the first leaves but dig up the root around November-March and `force` it to produce chicons which can be either eated raw or cooked.

Have a google around for more information

yes it depends on the variety - have been growing these for years and there are so many, some you force, others not, some are early varieties, others suitable for later sowings - some like a bit of cold to them to enhance their amazing colours, red, white and green (my favourites such as the radicchios) - you can eat them raw or cook them, raw they tend to have a slight bitter taste but that lends them well to a great dressing  :)

thanks all,

any help is appriciated :)