Permapotes
Chicory

Curly endive

Curly endive: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

Curly endive, also called frisée, is a form of Cichorium endivia in the Asteraceae family. This salad crop is valued for its finely divided leaves, crisp texture and gentle bitterness. The word endive can describe this species, whereas Belgian endive or witloof comes from another chicory, Cichorium intybus. The botanical names help distinguish closely related vegetables that may have confusing everyday names.

Frisée forms a rosette of many leaves. Their narrow segments and fringed edges give the plant a light, voluminous appearance. The outer leaves are generally green, while those at the centre can be paler. Rosette size, the fineness of the divisions and the density of the foliage vary between selections. A curly endive therefore does not necessarily resemble a compact lettuce head, even when it is described as a whole head in cooking.

Escarole also belongs to Cichorium endivia, but has broader leaves with less finely divided margins. Frisée de Meaux is an example of curly endive; Cornet d’Anjou is an escarole. These names illustrate two salad forms within the same species and are not interchangeable. The elongated, pale head of witloof belongs to another group of chicories and develops through forcing from a root.

Bitterness is part of frisée’s character, although its intensity is not identical in every leaf or dish. The pale heart is generally more tender and milder than the outer foliage. Garden blanching means growth without light, changing the heart’s colour and texture. It is optional and is different from briefly cooking leaves in boiling water. Green, unblanched frisée still has its own value as a salad crop.

In the kitchen, frisée adds texture and a distinctive outline to mixed leaves. It pairs with vinaigrettes, mustard, herbs and ingredients that are milder or richer. Lyonnaise salad is a classic example, combining frisée with bacon pieces, croutons and a poached egg. Young leaves and fully developed leaves have somewhat different textures, allowing the vegetable to appear in several kinds of presentation.

In a vegetable garden, the fringed rosette creates a different structure from broad-leaved salads. Growth can later move into flowering, changing the plant’s outline and the quality of its foliage. The useful season and tolerance of cold depend on the selection and conditions. Not all curly endives therefore share the same suitability for winter salads or retain identical foliage throughout the year.

Curly endive
Curly endive
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Annual
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
  • Mature height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
  • Sowing Depth : 1 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 20 cm
  • Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Low
  • Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Sowing