How to grow endive

Takes light frost · Daisy family

When to sow and plant

Start indoors 22 February – 8 March
Sow outdoors 22 March – 5 April
Plant out around 5 April

Based on: average for Germany, last frost 19 April, safe from 6 May

Where the dates come from

The weeks come from our sources; the dates use the average frost in Germany. Enter a German postcode to get dates for your area.

Sow outdoors: 2–4 weeks before the last frost (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Endive)
Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Endive)
Plant out: 2 weeks before the last frost (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Endive)

Good and bad neighbours

We don’t know any sourced neighbours for this plant yet.

Crop rotation

After the daisy family, leave the bed free of it for at least 3 years.

The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.
Example: grown here in 2026, again from 2030.

At a glance

Family: Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Nutrient needs: Medium feeder
Frost: Half-hardy, tolerates light frost
Spacing (row × plant): 30 × 23–38 cm (12 × 9–15 in)
Plants per m²: 14.5
Life cycle: Annual

Spacing according to RHS Grow your own: Endive. Other sources: 46 × 20–30 cm (18 × 8–12 in) (Cornell Home Gardening: Growing Guide Endive).

Questions and answers

When can I plant out endive?

Plant out, average for Germany: around 5 April. Enter a German postcode above for your area, or your own frost date in the planting calendar.

How far apart should I plant endive?

30 × 23–38 cm (12 × 9–15 in) (row × plant), according to RHS Grow your own: Endive.

How long a break do endive need in the same bed?

After the daisy family, leave the bed free of it for at least 3 years. The same species should go back to the same spot after a break of 3 years at the earliest.

Sources

Show 6 sources

Retrieved on 23 October 2026. Facts in our own words, one source per value.