Vert De Cambrai

Family: Asteraceae Vegetable

Crisp, cool, and unmistakably fresh—Vert De Cambrai forms tightly layered heads with a tender, pale-green heart and a pleasantly mild bitterness that lingers like a garden breeze.

The leaves are finely ruffled and hold their crunch, making this endive a standout for elegant salads and refined braises, as well as for quick pickling where its texture stays bright and snappy. Grow Vert De Cambrai for a long-season harvest of showy, rosette-tight greens that feel as good to grow as they taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Vert De Cambrai

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 18th
Harvest Begins	Jul 2nd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Vert De Cambrai’s tight rosette and tender heart let you enjoy its bitterness without harshness—ideal when you want crunch to survive dressings or gentle heat. It’s the kind of endive that behaves: you can shave it for restraint or braise it to silky without losing the layered bite.

Best Uses

classic shaved endive salads with a light vinaigrette
braises where you want layers to soften without turning mushy
quick pickling to keep a bright, snappy bite
endive cups for chic appetizers that hold a creamy filling

Flavor Profile

cool, crisp snap mild bitterness with a clean lingering finish tender pale-green heart finely ruffled leaves that stay crunchy

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil walnuts blue cheese bacon butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Cichorium endivia (Vert De Cambrai), and how can I treat it?

Endive (Cichorium endivia) often suffers from slugs/snails in damp weather and from downy mildew when foliage stays wet. Hand-pick at dusk, use copper barriers or crushed eggshells around beds, and keep plants spaced for airflow; avoid overhead watering so leaves don’t remain wet. If downy mildew appears, remove affected leaves promptly and stop irrigation that wets foliage for several days.

How often should I water Vert De Cambrai during the main growing phase?

During active growth (from about the 2–3 leaf stage until maturity), keep soil consistently moist but not soggy, about 1 inch of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply in the morning, then let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly before watering again to prevent waterlogged roots. Mulch helps maintain steady moisture around the shallow root system typical of endive.

How do I know when Vert De Cambrai is ready to harvest?

Harvest after roughly 75 days from sowing when the heads/rosettes are firm and well-filled, with crisp outer leaves that feel dense rather than loose. If you gently lift a plant, you should see a compact rosette structure, not elongated, spaced leaves. Cut at the base early in the day for best texture, and avoid leaving it too long once growth slows.