Endive is an extremely popular vegetable in Europe, and slowly gaining a larger following here in the UK. It has a slightly more biting flavour then lettuce. The plants can be grown for use throughout the summer and autumn either in a vegetable plot or for earlier use in poly tunnels or under cloches.

Sowings can be made under glass from March to September. Sow directly into pots, trays or modules of seed sowing compost at a temperature of 15-20°C and lightly cover seeds with a sprinkling of vermiculite or seed compost. Alternatively, sow seeds row March thinly along rows 1.5cm deep and 30cm apart into a vegetable plot. The first heads should be ready to harvest around 10-12 weeks from sowing.