Frilly texture with a tangy bite!
Frisée Endive is a curly-leafed beauty that brings texture, color, and a pleasantly bitter edge to your salad bowl. With its finely serrated leaves and pale, tender heart, it’s a favorite in French cuisine and gourmet kitchens alike.
Variety: Frisée Endive (Cichorium endivia)
Growth Habit: Cool-season biennial (grown as annual)
Height: 10–16 inches
Flavor Profile: Bitter, nutty, and crisp
Color: Pale green to yellow frilly leaves
Planting Conditions: Direct sow in full sun to partial shade; prefers rich, moist soil
Harvest Timeline: Leaves ready in 50–70 days
Uses: Gourmet salads, poached egg dishes, and French-style vinaigrettes
Fun Fact: Frisée is often blanched by tying the leaves together to create a tender, pale center with a milder flavor.
Frisée adds a touch of elegance and a whole lot of texture to your greens mix. Its frilly leaves hold up beautifully to bold dressings and pair perfectly with poached eggs, crispy bacon, and tangy vinaigrettes. Whether you’re plating a fancy brunch or tossing a rustic salad, Frisée brings a little French flair to the table.
To Full Size
🌞 Choose a Sunny Spot: Full sun to partial shade with rich, well-drained soil.
🌱 Sow the Seeds: Sow ¼ inch deep, spacing seeds 6–8 inches apart.
💧 Water Consistently: Keep soil evenly moist to prevent bitterness.
🌿 Thin and Maintain: Thin to 10–12 inches apart for full heads.
✂️ Harvest: Pick outer leaves as needed or harvest whole heads when full. For a milder flavor, tie outer leaves together a week before harvest to blanch the center.
