When to Plant Endive in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Sow August to May. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Endive guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Endive

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Endive is a cool-season salad green in the chicory family, available as curly-leaf (frisee) and broad-leaf (escarole/Batavian) types. It adds a distinctive, slightly bitter flavour to salads and is more heat-tolerant than lettuce. Blanching the inner leaves by tying or covering reduces bitterness. Well-suited to Australian autumn and winter gardens.

Planting Calendar for Mediterranean

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D T - - S S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Endive sowing time in Perth?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean zone right now, Endive included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 15.9°C (optimal range: 15–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Endive in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

February-May (autumn) and August-September (late winter). Excellent cool-season crop.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost. Tolerates a range of soils but performs best in loamy, moisture-retentive ground.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade (afternoon) in warmer zones to reduce bitterness and bolting.
Spacing
30cm apart, 40cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture essential for tender leaves. Water deeply 2-3 times per week. Avoid wetting foliage to prevent rot during blanching. Drip irrigation ideal.

Companion plants: Chives, Radish, Carrot, Bean

Avoid planting near: No major antagonists known

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Endive

Recommended Varieties

  • Green Curled
  • Frisee
  • Broad-leaved Batavian
  • Cornet de Bordeaux

Key Challenges

  • Summer heat prevents growing November-February
  • Slugs in wet winter

Pro Tips

  • Ideal crop for Perth/Adelaide autumn-winter gardens
  • Complements lettuce and rocket in cool-season salad beds
  • Blanch for 2-3 weeks before harvest for best eating quality

Harvesting Endive

When ready: Plant is full and dense (30-40cm diameter). Inner leaves should be pale green to yellow-white if blanched. For baby leaf, harvest at 10-15cm.

How to harvest: Cut entire plant at soil level. Or harvest outer leaves progressively for cut-and-come-again. For blanching, tie outer leaves and harvest entire head after 2-3 weeks.

Common Endive Pests in Mediterranean Zones

Aphids, risk: MODERATE (score: 51/100)

Organic prevention: Water in morning. Remove hiding places. Protect seedlings with cloches.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the mediterranean zone this September: Ginger, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

Get the Full Interactive Guide

Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.

Open the planting dashboard Join Garden Buddy

Common Questions About Endive

When do you plant endive in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does endive grow all year round in Perth?

No. In the Mediterranean zone the planting months are Jan to May, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.