Frisee De Beauregard

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Lacy, ruffled fronds unfurl in a cool-weather crescendo, their crisp bite and tender, pleasantly bitter edge coming through with striking clarity.

Frisee De Beauregard forms compact, upright heads of tight, curly green that hold their texture beautifully from garden to table, ideal for fresh salads and elegant garnishes. Grow it for a refined, old-world endive character—bold enough to stand on its own, yet perfectly suited to dressings, sauces, and quick pickling-style preparations.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Frisee De Beauregard

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This frisee brings a high-voltage bitter edge with a crackly, ruffled crunch, so it wants acidic dressings and salty fats that can grab onto every fold. Use it fresh for maximum snap, or wilt it briefly in butter to turn the bitterness sweeter without losing the lacy bite.

Best Uses

shaved frisee salads dressed with Dijon vinaigrette (let it cling, not wilt)
classic frisee with poached egg and bacon/anchovy-style salty fat
quick sauté in butter with garlic for a controlled, mellowed bitterness
tossed into soups and braises late to keep the texture lacy

Flavor Profile

lively, crisp snap clean herbal bitterness tender frill that soaks dressing without collapsing bright grassy finish

Kitchen Pairings

Dijon mustard bacon anchovy lemon juice parmesan butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease for Cichorium endivia (frisée) and how do I control it?

A frequent problem is downy mildew or leaf spot (often worse in cool, damp weather and crowded plantings). Remove affected leaves promptly, improve airflow by thinning to the spacing on your seed packet, and avoid overhead watering. If you see rapidly spreading lesions, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for leafy greens and stop harvesting until the pre-harvest interval has passed.

How often should I water frisée (Cichorium endivia) during the main growing phase?

Keep the soil consistently evenly moist during active leaf growth, typically about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil dry slightly before watering again to prevent disease. Stress from irregular watering can lead to bitter leaves and early loosening.

How can I tell when frisée (Cichorium endivia) is ready to harvest?

Harvest around 55 days after sowing when heads are compact enough to hold curled, frilly leaves, and individual plants have reached your desired size. Use leaf cues: outer leaves should be crisp and well-developed with clear frill texture, not thin and sparse. For best quality, harvest in cooler weather and pick before plants bolt (when the center starts stretching and sending up a flower stalk).