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 should I plant endive?

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

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): February to August
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): February to April and August to October
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): September to January
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to July
• Arid inland: March to August

How do I grow endive 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.

How often should I water and feed endive?

Keep the mix evenly moist for tender, less-bitter leaves.

What pests attack endive?

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

What diseases affect endive?

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

What grows well with endive?

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

When do I harvest endive?

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 garden 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.