Endive / Escarole

Asteraceae

Chicory family — NOT lettuce. Curly endive = frisée; broad-leaf = escarole. Slightly bitter flavor mellowed by blanching: cover center to exclude light 3-14 days before harvest for milder, creamier inner leaves. Self-blanching varieties available. Thermal dormancy above 77°F — chill seed for summer sowings. Best grown for fall harvest. Transplant preferred for longer DTM.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

45–65 days

Sun

4+ hours

Spacing

10–12 "

Container

Yes

2+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–10 days

Optimal Temp 63°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Watering

Weekly Water 1–1.5 "

Needs Moderate-consistent

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Resilience

Heat: Medium Cold: Medium Drought: Low

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Harvest

Storage 14 days

Sources

seed-catalog Johnny's Seeds — Endive/Escarole university UMN Extension horticultural Seeds from Italy extension Growing lettuce, endive and radicchio in home gardens (University of Minnesota Extension) seed_catalog Chicory: Endive & Escarole – Key Growing Information (Johnny's Selected Seeds)

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Endive / Escarole Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Endive / Escarole vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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