If you’re like me and hate the idea of giving up fresh garden salads just because the weather is cooling down, you need to get some endives in your life! This leafy green is a total rockstar for the fall and winter garden. You can harvest it well into December, and honestly, it’s not picky at all once you get it going.
Timing Your Planting and Picking the Perfect Spot
When it comes to sowing your seeds, timing is everything. You don’t want to jump the gun here! If you plant too early, the plants might “bolt” (which is just garden-speak for flowering too soon), and you’ll end up with barely any leaves to eat. To avoid that heartbreak, wait until at least mid-June to start planting—though mid-July is usually the sweet spot. Just be sure to check the specific endive variety you bought, as some like it a little earlier or later than others.
As for where to put them, keep two things in mind: they love the sun and they love a “rich” diet. Endives need plenty of sunlight to keep them from getting too bitter. The sun naturally lowers the nitrate levels in the leaves, which mellows out the flavor. When you’re ready to plant, bury the seeds about half an inch deep (1 cm) and give them plenty of elbow room—at least 12 inches (30 cm) apart from their neighbors.
Giving Your Endives Some TLC
Endives are a little high-maintenance right at the beginning, especially when it comes to water. After you sow the seeds or transplant your starts, you’ve got to keep the soil consistently moist. You definitely don’t want those delicate little seedlings drying out on you!
In terms of food, if you mixed some good compost into your soil before planting, you’re probably good to go. If not, you might want to add some mulch or a balanced fertilizer. Endives are “heavy feeders,” meaning they need plenty of nutrients to grow those big, lush heads of lettuce we’re looking for.
Frost Hardiness and Harvest Time
Since endives are known as a winter salad staple, they can definitely handle a chill. They’re pretty tough and can survive a light frost without breaking a sweat. However, if the temperature really starts to nose-dive, it’s a good idea to tuck them in with some brushwood, garden fleece, or a cold frame for protection.
Typically, it takes about three months for endives to reach maturity. That’s only about twelve weeks from seed to salad bowl—not bad at all! Depending on when you started and which variety you chose, you’ll usually be harvesting from August all the way through November.
