How to grow endive & escarole
Cichorium endivia · Asteraceae · Vegetable
When to plant endive & escarole: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 3 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F, fastest near 68°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Apr 4 – Apr 23, or sow Jul 17 – Aug 3 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Sep 11 – Sep 28 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 25 – Feb 13) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for endive & escarole. See every zone.
Endive & Escarole is a cool-season vegetable in the Asteraceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 85–100 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: Bitter chicory relatives of lettuce - frilly curly endive (frisee) and broad-leaf escarole. The fall crop is much milder. Blanch the heart by tying the outer leaves closed for a week or two before cutting.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 45–80°F — germination is quickest near 68°F. It comes up fast (5–10 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 10″ along the row with roughly 14″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 2 per square foot. Allow at least 8″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 8″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, endive & escarole does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — though a hard freeze will end it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long endive & escarole takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 85-100 days (12-14 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 5-10 days in soil around 68°F.
When to plant endive & escarole
When to plant endive & escarole by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Apr 19 – May 8 | Jun 27 – Jul 14 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Apr 14 – May 3 | Jul 7 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 4 – Apr 23 | Jul 17 – Aug 3 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 | Mar 20 – Apr 8 | Jul 27 – Aug 13 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Mar 10 – Mar 29 | Aug 6 – Aug 23 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 22 – Mar 13 | Aug 17 – Sep 3 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Jan 25 – Feb 13 | Sep 11 – Sep 28 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Jan 4 – Jan 23 | Sep 26 – Oct 13 |
Companions
Carrot, Radish, Onion
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: aphids, slugs, snails.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew, bottom rot, bacterial soft rot.
Same family (Asteraceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant endive & escarole?
Start seeds indoors about 5 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 2 weeks before it; sow outdoors about 3 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow about 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does endive & escarole take to grow?
About 85-100 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 5-10 days, fastest in soil around 68°F.
How much sun does endive & escarole need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does endive & escarole need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant endive & escarole?
Space plants about 10 inches apart in rows 14 inches apart, or 2 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow endive & escarole in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.