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How to Grow Endives USA | Complete Growing Guide

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Endive (Cichorium endivia)

A young endive rosette plant — “20210620 Hortus botanicus Leiden - Cichorium endivia” by Rudolphous is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

5 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Ready in
70–100 days
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6.5–7.8
Biggest risk
Endive downy mildew

In the UK, endives are ready to harvest 70–100 days after planting.

Endives (Cichorium endivia) — biennial.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

At a Glance

Rows of curly endive growing in a garden bed — “Innerstädtischer Erwerbsgartenbau in Bamberg - Pflanzen im Garten des Gärtner- und Häckermuseums 10” by Kritzolina is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Innerstädtischer Erwerbsgartenbau in Bamberg - Pflanzen im Garten des Gärtner- und Häckermuseums 10” by Kritzolina is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Cichorium endivia Endive Endive downy mildew Aphids Slugs Snails DISEASES PESTS

Quick Facts

A young endive rosette plant — “20210620 Hortus botanicus Leiden - Cichorium endivia” by Rudolphous is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“20210620 Hortus botanicus Leiden - Cichorium endivia” by Rudolphous is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6.5 - 7.8
Sunlight 6-6 hours direct sun
Germination temp 15C
Optimal growing temp 15-23C
Minimum survivable temp -5C
Time to harvest 70-100 days
Drainage Moist but well-drained
Lifecycle biennial
Edible parts leaves

Soil & Growing Conditions

Rows of curly endive growing in a garden bed — “Innerstädtischer Erwerbsgartenbau in Bamberg - Pflanzen im Garten des Gärtner- und Häckermuseums 10” by Kritzolina is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Innerstädtischer Erwerbsgartenbau in Bamberg - Pflanzen im Garten des Gärtner- und Häckermuseums 10” by Kritzolina is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6.5 7.8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A pale blue endive flower — “Cichorium endivia kz02” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Cichorium endivia kz02” by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing and germination 0 Sow after frost risk has passed, in early spring for a summer crop or mid/late summer for an autumn-winter crop in cooler climates (NC State Extension).
Rosette leaf growth 1 Rapid rosette growth in full sun to partial shade, moisture-retentive well-drained soil; optimal growth at 60-65F, more heat-tolerant than lettuce but prone to bolting in short days or cool weather (NC State Extension).
Blanching (optional) 4 Hearts are often covered to exclude light for the last week or two before harvest, softening bitterness and paling the leaf colour.
Harvest 8 Harvest the loose rosette head about 70-100 days from sowing, before the plant bolts and runs to its pale blue summer flowers (NC State Extension).

Harvest & Storage

A young endive rosette plant — “20210620 Hortus botanicus Leiden - Cichorium endivia” by Rudolphous is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“20210620 Hortus botanicus Leiden - Cichorium endivia” by Rudolphous is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: RHS: whole heads ready "about three months after sowing" (approx. 90 days); cut-and-come-again baby leaves ready "a month or so after sowing." NC State: overall growth period about 70-100 days. Harvest by cutting the stem and removing tough outer leaves; heads may be blanched by covering for 10-14 days to reduce bitterness before cutting.

Storage

Best used fresh; blanching improves flavour/texture before harvest

Diseases

Endive leaves showing grey mould (Botrytis) damage — “Endivien Frisee-Botrytis cinerea-3-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Endivien Frisee-Botrytis cinerea-3-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Endive downy mildew

The most important oomycete disease of endive/escarole (Bremia lactucae): yellow-to-brown sunken angular leaf spots restricted by leaf veins, fuzzy white growth on the leaf underside, older outer leaves most affected,…

Pests

A slug on an endive leaf showing feeding damage — “Endivien-Schnecken-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Endivien-Schnecken-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Aphididae (various spp.)

Slugs

Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)

Snails

Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)

References

  1. country=INTL

  2. country=INTL

  3. country=USA

  4. country=UK

  5. country=UK

5 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do endives take to grow?

Typically 70–100 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do endives need?

A pH of about 6.5–7.8. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect endives?

Our data links 1 disease and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

US vegetable growing guides · Checked against USDA & Cooperative Extension guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real US growing conditions, and checked against USDA hardiness and frost-date data and Cooperative Extension growing advice before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides USA

Last verified 2026-08-30

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