200+ Green Curled Ruffec Endive Seeds

Green Curled Ruffec Endive Seeds (Cichorium endivia var. crispum) produce hardy, attractive plants with deeply cut, finely curled dark green leaves surrounding a lighter, tender center. Also known as curly endive or frisée, this classic open-pollinated variety has a crisp texture and pleasantly bitter, slightly nutty flavor. The leaves are excellent for fresh salads, garnishes, sandwiches, soups, and cooked greens. Green Curled Ruffec performs especially well in cool, moist weather and tolerates light frost better than many leafy vegetables.

Planting Season

Best planted in: Early Spring & Late Summer to Fall (Cool-Season Crop)

Sow in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked or in mid to late summer for a fall and early winter harvest. Green Curled Ruffec grows best at temperatures around 55–65°F (13–18°C). Cool autumn conditions generally produce sweeter, more tender leaves, while prolonged heat may cause bitterness and premature bolting.

How to Grow Green Curled Ruffec Endive Seeds

Sow seeds directly outdoors or start them indoors approximately 3–4 weeks before transplanting.

Choose a location with full sun in cool weather. Provide partial afternoon shade when growing in warmer conditions.

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil amended with compost or well-rotted organic matter. A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal.

Sow seeds approximately ⅛–¼ inch deep and cover them lightly with fine soil.

For direct sowing, plant seeds approximately 1 inch apart in rows spaced 12–18 inches apart.

Thin established seedlings to approximately 8–12 inches apart to provide enough space for full rosette development.

When starting indoors, sow 2–3 seeds per cell and thin to the strongest seedling.

Transplant when seedlings have developed 3–4 true leaves, usually around 3–4 weeks after sowing. Plant them shallowly, keeping the crown slightly above the soil surface to reduce the risk of rot.

Keep the soil surface consistently moist during germination, but avoid waterlogged conditions.

Seeds can germinate between approximately 45–85°F (7–29°C), with temperatures around 60–75°F (16–24°C) producing the best results.

Seeds typically germinate within 3–10 days under suitable conditions.

For an extended harvest, sow additional seeds every 2–3 weeks during cool growing periods.

How to Care for Green Curled Ruffec Endive Plants

Water regularly and maintain consistently moist soil throughout the growing season. Dry conditions can make the leaves tougher and more bitter.

Provide approximately 1–2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall, temperature, and soil type.

Water near the base of the plants to keep the foliage and central crown dry, especially during cool or humid weather.

Enrich the soil with compost before planting. Apply a light, balanced or nitrogen-containing fertilizer if growth becomes slow or leaves appear pale.

Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which can encourage overly soft growth and may increase bitterness.

Apply a light layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Keep mulch away from the central crown to prevent rot.

Remove weeds carefully because endive plants have relatively shallow roots and do not compete well with aggressive weeds.

For milder, paler, and more tender inner leaves, blanch the plants approximately 1–3 weeks before harvest. Gently gather and tie the dry outer leaves together over the center, or cover the plant with an upturned pot to exclude sunlight. Do not tie wet leaves, as trapped moisture can cause decay.

Harvest individual outer leaves when they are large enough to use, allowing the center to continue growing.

For a full harvest, cut the entire plant at soil level when it has formed a dense rosette and before it begins producing a flower stalk.

Green Curled Ruffec Endive typically matures within approximately 70–80 days after sowing, with some seed suppliers listing about 75 days under favorable conditions.

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