When to plant Endive in Subtropical Australia
Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.
Sow endive direct from March to July, through the cooler, drier subtropical months when this leafy chicory relative is at its best. Sow about 5 mm deep, expect germination in 10–20 days, and thin plants to 20–30 cm with rows 20–30 cm apart. Heads are ready in 50–80 days, and a winter crop grows sweetest with the least bitterness. In Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, keeping endive to autumn and winter sowings sidesteps the heat-driven bolting that ruins spring and summer plantings.
Sowing calendar — subtropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: March to July.
Growing notes
Endive is a cool-season leafy vegetable, so in the subtropics it belongs firmly in the autumn-to-winter window. Grown into warm weather it bolts fast and the leaves turn intensely bitter, which is the single most common way this crop disappoints. Keep sowing to the March to July range and harvest before the spring warmth arrives.
Sow into moisture-retentive but free-draining soil in a spot with morning sun, and keep water up steadily, as any check to growth from drought increases bitterness. Even, unbroken growth gives the tenderest heads.
Many gardeners blanch the centres to sweeten them: gather the outer leaves up and tie them, or cover the plant with an upturned pot for a week or two before harvest to exclude light from the heart. Good airflow matters through any wet spells around Coffs Harbour and Lismore, since crowded, damp hearts are prone to rot and slug damage. Space plants their full distance, water in the morning so foliage dries by evening, and pick heads promptly once they mature rather than leaving them to sit and spoil.
Endive at a glance
| Sowing depth | 5 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 20-30 cm |
| Row spacing | 20-30 cm |
| Germination | 10-20 days |
| Days to maturity | 50-80 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Raise Seedlings,Sow Direct |
Common questions
- when to plant endive in Brisbane
- Sow direct from March to July, through the cooler, drier subtropical months. Autumn and winter sowings avoid the heat-driven bolting and bitterness of spring plantings.
- why is my endive so bitter
- Bitterness comes from heat, bolting or checked growth from drought. Grow it in the cool season, keep water steady, and blanch the hearts before harvest to sweeten the leaves.
- how do you blanch endive
- Gather the outer leaves and tie them, or cover the plant with an upturned pot for a week or two before harvest. Excluding light from the heart softens the flavour and pales the centre.
- how long does endive take to grow
- Endive germinates in 10–20 days and heads are ready in about 50–80 days. Pick promptly once mature, as heads left standing can rot in humid weather.
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