Broadleaf Batavian Endive is an escarole-type green that brings tender, buttery hearts to your garden in just 80 to 89 days. Grown across hardiness zones 3 through 9, this annual produces impressively dense heads measuring 12 to 16 inches, with broad, slightly twisted outer leaves that cradle a remarkably well-blanched, creamy-white interior. Unlike many endives that lean toward bitterness, this variety develops a buttery texture in the heart that makes it as pleasant raw as it is cooked.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Tolerates Slightly Alkaline Soils
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
—
Height
—
Width
6 in
Spacing
80–89
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
3-9
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Low
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The real draw here is that creamy-white, buttery heart nestled inside those broad, slightly twisted outer leaves. You'll harvest heads that are tight-packed and substantial, measuring 12 to 16 inches across, with impressive interior blanching that happens naturally as the plant matures. At 85 days from seed to harvest, it strikes the right balance between maturity and vigor, and it grows reliably across most of North America.
Common Uses
Broadleaf Batavian Endive shines in fresh salads, where its tender, buttery heart can be enjoyed raw with minimal preparation. The blanched interior leaves are delicate enough to feature alone, dressed simply with vinaigrette to let their creamy texture shine. The broader outer leaves work beautifully in cooked applications, sautéed, braised, or added to soups, where they become silky and lose any harshness. It's equally at home on a crudités platter or as a sophisticated addition to composed salads.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable
First Harvest
8-10 Weeks After Planting
Last Harvest
Late Fall, If Successive Plantings Are Made
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your target transplant date, maintaining soil temperatures between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds shallowly and expose seedlings to light by day four for sturdy development.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden once soil temperatures reach 50 degrees or warmer, spacing plants 12 to 16 inches apart to allow full head development. Handle gently to avoid disturbing the root system.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in the garden in spring after frost danger passes or in late summer for fall harvest, planting seeds shallowly in moist soil. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 14 days at optimal temperatures.
Harvesting
Harvest heads when they reach 12 to 16 inches across and feel tight and compact to the touch, typically at 85 days from sowing. You can harvest individual outer leaves once plants are established, or cut entire heads at the base with a sharp knife. The creamy-white heart should feel slightly firm and the exterior leaves should still be crisp. Fall-grown plants often taste sweeter after a light frost, so timing your final harvest after cool weather can improve flavor.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cichorium endivia L.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Cichorium
Duration
Perennial
Native Status
L48 (I)