Late Alaska Escarole Seeds

• Late Alaska Escarole
• The Late Alaska Escarole Plant
• How to Sow Late Alaska Escarole
• How to Grow Late Alaska Escarole
• Tips for Growing Late Alaska Escarole
• Diseases and Pests of Late Alaska Escarole
• Properties of Late Alaska Escarole
• Nutritional Values of Late Alaska Escarole (per 100 g)

Late Alaska Escarole

The late Alaska escarole is a late-season escarole variety with a characteristic dark green color and a globe-shaped, rounded head. It stands out for its bubbled leaves, particularly resistant and crunchy, making it a popular choice for anyone seeking a compact head with excellent texture for the colder months.

The late Alaska escarole Plant

Botanically it is a Cichorium endivia var. latifolium, part of the Asteraceae family, the same as chicory and artichoke. The plant forms a globe-shaped, rounded head, with dark green outer leaves and a slightly bubbled surface, while the central heart naturally lightens as it matures.

It is a late-cycle variety, requiring a longer development time than earlier selections, but rewarding growers with a particularly sturdy head and good keeping quality after harvest.

How to Sow late Alaska escarole

Sowing takes place from July to September, either in a seedbed for later transplanting or by direct sowing in the open field. Seeds should be buried about 1-1.5 cm deep, spacing plants 25 cm apart along the row and 30 cm between rows. Germination usually occurs within 15-20 days at soil temperatures between 15 and 20°C.

How to Grow late Alaska escarole

This variety favors well-worked, loose, cool soil rich in organic matter, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Being a late-cycle vegetable, it is well suited to summer sowings for autumn and winter harvests, performing especially well in milder climates where hard frosts arrive later in the season.

Harvest usually takes place about 120 days after transplanting, once the head has reached its characteristic compact, globe shape. Watering should stay consistent throughout the cycle, while avoiding waterlogging that encourages rot.

Tips for Growing late Alaska escarole

Given the length of the growing cycle, it is advisable to protect plants with row covers in case of sudden late frosts, so as not to compromise the harvest in its final stages. Tying the outer leaves around the heart a few days before harvest helps naturally lighten and sweeten the inner leaves.

Diseases and Pests of late Alaska escarole

Fungal rots, favored by excess humidity and poor air circulation, remain the main risk: well-draining soil and watering directed at the soil rather than the leaves help prevent them. Common pests include slugs, especially active during humid autumn periods, manageable with physical barriers or beer traps buried near the plants.

Properties of late Alaska escarole

The leaves of this escarole have a very low calorie content and high water content, making it well suited to light diets. It is a good source of potassium and dietary fiber, and also contains provitamin A and vitamin C. The slightly bitter taste typical of the chicory family is traditionally associated with beneficial effects on digestion.

Nutritional Values of late Alaska escarole (per 100 g)

• Calories: 17 kcal
• Protein: 1.3 g
• Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 3.4 g
• Fiber: 3.1 g
• Vitamin A: 145 mcg
• Potassium: 314 mg