Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a cool-season salad crop with two types: curly endive (frisée) with finely divided, frilly leaves, and broad-leaved endive (escarole) with wide, flat leaves. Both prefer fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8–7.0. Direct sow or transplant in early spring or late summer for fall harvest — endive bolts in summer heat. Transplant or thin to 10–12 inches apart. Water consistently, about 1 inch per week — drought stress intensifies bitterness and triggers bolting. Fertilize with nitrogen at planting and once at midsummer for fall crops. The critical technique for endive is blanching: 2–3 weeks before harvest, tie the outer leaves over the center with a rubber band or lay a flat board over the center, excluding light. The interior leaves turn pale yellow-white, lose much of their bitterness, and become the prized sweet heart of the head. Do not blanch when foliage is wet to avoid rot.