Vegetable · Leafy green
Chicory & Endive
Cichorium intybus / Cichorium endiviaA bittersweet salad family prized for the very edge most gardeners try to breed out of other greens. Blanching mellows the bite into something nutty and tender. The one rule: blanch just before harvest, not too early, or leaves rot.
Sow depth
½ in
Spacing
10 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Sun or part shade
Germination
7–14 days
Time to harvest
45–60 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow chicory & endive
- Sow from about 2 weeks before your last expected frost until about 3 weeks after your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 13 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 8 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Direct sow shallowly into a fine, moist seedbed.Thin as seedlings crowd, to give heads room to form.Sow a second batch later in the season for an autumn crop.
Water evenly — drought stress sharpens bitterness even further.Weed regularly while plants are small and roots are shallow.Cover with a pot or blanching cap two to three weeks before harvest.
Cut once heads feel firm, or leaves are full-sized and crisp.Harvest blanched heads promptly — they do not store long once cut.A light frost sweetens outdoor leaves left unblanched.
Companion plants
Shallow-rooted salad neighbors like lettuce and radishes share the bed without competing for the same root zone.
Watch out for
Slugs — Shelter in blanching caps and damp lower leaves. Check under covers regularly and bait sparingly.Bolting — Brought on by heat or long days. Choose slow-bolt varieties and sow in cooler stretches of the season.