How to grow endive in a raised bed

Endive is the slightly bitter, frilly salad green that adds real character to a mix. It's an easy, hardy cool-season crop, and blanching the heart in a raised bed gives you a sweeter, paler centre.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm+ depth
• Time to harvest: 8–12 weeks

When to plant: Endive grows best in the cool — sow from late summer through autumn. Heat makes it bolt and turn bitter. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing it in a raised bed: Sow directly or plant seedlings into rich, moist mix. For a milder, blanched heart, tie the outer leaves up over the centre (or cover with a plate) for a week or two before harvest.

Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for tender, less-bitter leaves.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, slugs and snails and caterpillars. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main one is downy mildew and damping-off, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.

Companion plants: Grows happily among other salad greens and quick crops. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick outer leaves as needed, or cut the whole blanched head. Use it fresh.

More growing guides: radicchio, lettuce and lamb's lettuce.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Schlaghecken Josef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.