Escarole (Endive) in Zone 3a & 3b
Cichorium endivia
Yes, escarole (endive) grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors May 2–May 9 and plant out May 16–May 23.
When to plant escarole (endive) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | May 2–May 9 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 16–May 23 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 9–Aug 16 (~85 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of escarole (endive) in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionMay 9–May 16
- RadishMay 2–May 9
- CarrotMay 9–May 16
- CabbageMay 16–May 23
- LettuceMay 16–May 23
- BroccoliMay 16–May 23
Escarole and endive are frilly-to-broad-leaved chicory relatives that head up right in the garden and are eaten as a slightly bitter salad green, distinct from the Belgian endive already covered on this site, which is dug and forced in total darkness instead.
How escarole (endive) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Escarole (endive) needs about 85 days from sowing to first harvest.
Escarole (Endive) planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 22–Apr 29 | May 6–May 13 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | May 2–May 9 | May 16–May 23 | Aug 9–Aug 16 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 17–Apr 24 | May 1–May 8 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 12–Apr 19 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 20–Jul 27 |
| 6a & 6bSpring window | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jul 8–Jul 22 | Oct 1–Oct 15 |
| 7a & 7bSpring window | Mar 13–Mar 20 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 20–Jun 27 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jul 18–Aug 1 | Oct 11–Oct 25 |
| 8a & 8bSpring window | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Jun 4–Jun 11 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 3–Aug 17 | Oct 27–Nov 10 |
| 9a & 9bSpring window | Jan 18–Jan 25 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 27–May 4 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 28–Sep 11 | Nov 21–Dec 5 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Jan 2–Jan 9 | Jan 16–Jan 23 | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Sep 12–Sep 26 | Dec 6–Dec 20 |
| 11a & 11bFall window | Not usually | Sep–Mar | ~85 days after planting |
Harvest dates are about 85 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for escarole (endive).
Where to buy escarole seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's escarole seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing escarole (endive)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Escarole (Endive) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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