When to Plant Endive in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Sow February to July. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is February.

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 Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

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 Subtropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 20.4°C (optimal range: 15–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

That figure is read off my own weather station here at Dayboro in South East Queensland at 18:55 yesterday, not a model. The radar, the rain gauge and the forecasts behind it sit on Dayboro.au.

How to Grow Endive in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

February-June (autumn-winter). Best results March-May planting for winter harvest.

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

Subtropical Growing Tips for Endive

Recommended Varieties

  • Green Curled
  • Broad-leaved Batavian
  • Tres Fine Maraichere

Key Challenges

  • Bolting if warm spells occur
  • Slugs in wet weather
  • Bitterness increases with heat

Pro Tips

  • Plant in part shade if February start to reduce bolt risk
  • Blanch by tying outer leaves 2-3 weeks before harvest for milder flavour
  • Excellent winter salad green for SEQ

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.

Where to next

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

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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 Brisbane?

No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Feb to Jul. 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.