Endive is a plant that grows well in Texas, being tolerant of weather extremes and not being as susceptible to insects and diseases as leaf and head lettuce, to which it is related.
There are two types of endive-a narrow, curly-leafed type (endive), and a broad-leafed type (escarole). The curly-leafed type is more tolerant of high temperatures and should be planted for late spring or early fall harvest. The broad-leafed type is best suited for late fall, winter, and early spring harvest.
For a late spring harvest, seed three to four weeks before the last killing frost in spring. For an initial fall harvest, seed about ten weeks before the first hard frost. Subsequent plantings may be made for fall harvest, but you should switch to escarole because it is able to withstand cold weather better than endive. However, temperatures in the mid to low 20s will most likely kill endive or escarole, and warm temperatures will result in flowering.
The soil should be prepared and fertilized as you would for lettuce. Seeds should be spaced six to eight seeds per foot of row and covered 1/4th inch deep. If temperatures are high, the seeds may be covered with compost. You should thin seedlings to ten to fourteen inches apart. About two weeks after thinning, the plants should be side-dressed lightly with nitrogen, the soil should be kept moist, and mulch should be placed around the plants to ensure vigorous plant growth.
In order to decrease bitterness, the plants should be blanched when they are about ten weeks old by gathering up the outside leaves and tying them together at the top with string or rubber bands. The hearts of the plants can be blanched by placing objects over their centers. Blanching will occur in about three weeks in the spring; in the fall, it may take twice as long. If the foliage is wet or damp when you tie it up, the leaves may decay. So make sure the foliage is dry before tying up to blanch.
After blanching, harvest with a sharp knife, cutting through the stem of the plant near ground level.
Jean Brutout, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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