Frisee De Meaux

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Frisee De Meaux brings a dramatic, frilly crescendo of tender leaves in a cool, pale green to creamy-yellow tone—silky at first touch, then delightfully crisp with a gentle, pleasantly bitter edge.

Ideal for gardeners who love bold texture, it forms tight, upright heads with finely cut, ruffled margins that hold their shape beautifully. Grow it for elegant fresh salads and refined endive presentations, where its frisee-like crunch shines and its flavor stays bright and distinctive.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Frisee De Meaux

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Frisee De Meaux’s fine frill keeps its structure in a bowl, delivering bitter-bright crunch instead of turning limp. It’s the kind of endive that holds up to a mustard-lemon dressing and rewards you with that silky-to-crisp transition in every forkful.

Best Uses

tossed fresh with a light emulsified vinaigrette to keep the bite snappy
classic endive/egg preparations where bitterness plays well with richness
served as a crisp base for warm proteins (so it stays crunchy, not soggy)
shaved or torn into salads for texture—especially when mixed with sweeter greens

Flavor Profile

frilly crisp texture pleasantly bitter edge cool, clean grassy green taste tender silken bite before the crunch

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil mustard poached eggs parmesan butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease or pest most commonly affects Cichorium endivia (frisée) and how do I treat it?

Watch for slugs and snails on young frisée, especially in cool, damp weather; use copper barriers or handpick at dusk and reduce leaf litter where they hide. If you see gray-brown, fuzzy growth or leaf spots spreading in wet conditions, remove affected leaves immediately and improve airflow by spacing plants properly; avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry.

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

During the ~60-day grow-out, keep soil consistently evenly moist, not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to stay lightly damp. In full sun, this typically means watering about 1–2 times per week, increasing to 2–3 times per week during warm, dry stretches, and always water at the base to prevent wet leaves.

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

Harvest when heads form and the leaves are crisp and fully sized, usually around 60 days from sowing or transplanting (use your dates as the guide). Pull or cut at the base when leaf length and density look substantial, and harvest before plants bolt or develop tall flowering stalks; if you want more tenderness, harvest in cool weather when leaves feel less bitter.