Bingo
Cichorium intybus
Wikimedia Commons
Belgian endive, or witloof, has a 2-stage production system to achieve the blanched heads (or "chicon") which are a venerated European delicacy and welcome off-season leafy vegetable. Bingo is a vast improvement over Totem, which it replaced, for its superior performance; more uniform root size across a wider range of soil types; improved strength against internal browning of the root core; and improved foliage health against powdery mildew. Early to intermediate forcing period. Bingo is ready shortly after a fall harvest in October/November and continues to store and force well into March.
Harvest
115d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–8
USDA hardiness
Height
3-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Bingo in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 lettuce →Zone Map
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Bingo · Zones 3–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | September – September |
| Zone 2 | — | — | May – July | September – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | August – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | July – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | June – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | May – December |
Succession Planting
Bingo's 115-day timeline means you get two planting windows in zone 7, not a rolling succession. Direct sow the first round from March through early May — anything going in the ground after May 1 will spend its critical sizing weeks fighting July and August heat, which accelerates bitterness and bolting. The second window is a late-July to early-August sow timed to put harvest in October and November, after the worst heat has broken. Two rounds per year is realistic; trying to squeeze in a third usually just produces a crop that bolts before it's worth cutting.
Complete Growing Guide
Belgian endive, or witloof, has a 2-stage production system to achieve the blanched heads (or "chicon") which are a venerated European delicacy and welcome off-season leafy vegetable. Bingo is a vast improvement over Totem, which it replaced, for its superior performance; more uniform root size across a wider range of soil types; improved strength against internal browning of the root core; and improved foliage health against powdery mildew. Early to intermediate forcing period. Bingo is ready shortly after a fall harvest in October/November and continues to store and force well into March. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Bingo is 115 root harvest to maturity, annual, open pollinated.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High, Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Bingo reaches harvest at 115 root harvest from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Brown oblong and 5-ribbed achene with blunt ends. The wider end has a bristles across the top.
Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan. Type: Achene.
Edibility: Leaves can be used in salads or cooked to reduce bitter flavor. Roots can be dried and used as a coffee substitute.
Storage & Preservation
# Storage and Preservation
Harvest Bingo chicory heads when fully blanched and firm, then store immediately at 32–36°F in high humidity (95%), ideally in perforated plastic bags or wrapped in damp cloth within a root cellar or refrigerator crisper. Properly stored heads remain crisp and bitter-free for 2–3 weeks. For longer preservation, blanched and chopped Bingo freezes well when flash-frozen on trays before bagging—use within 8–10 months. Fermentation works excellently with this variety; finely shred heads, salt at 2–3% by weight, pack tightly, and ferment at cool room temperature for 3–4 weeks for a tangy condiment that keeps for months. Light cooking softens Bingo's assertive bitterness if raw storage isn't preferred. Avoid ethylene-producing fruits nearby, as they accelerate browning and deterioration in storage.
History & Origin
Bingo is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Europe
Advantages
- +Superior performance and uniformity compared to predecessor variety Totem
- +Produces uniform root sizes across diverse soil types
- +Resistant to internal root browning, a major quality defect
- +Excellent powdery mildew resistance in foliage health
- +Extended storage and forcing capability from October through March
Considerations
- -Requires specialized two-stage production system for proper blanching
- -Demands cooler fall harvest timing for optimal forcing results
- -Internal browning still possible despite improved resistance genetics
Companion Plants
Radishes and carrots work well alongside Bingo because they root at different depths — radishes stay shallow at 6–8 inches and get pulled before the chicory needs the space, while carrots go deeper without competing. Marigolds (Tagetes patula) and nasturtiums pull double duty here in the Georgia heat: they draw aphids off the chicory foliage and bring in predatory wasps that clean up soft-bodied insects before they establish. Garlic and chives add some insurance against fungal gnats and root-feeding insects through volatile sulfur compounds — a real consideration once our June humidity sets in and pest pressure climbs fast. Keep Bingo at least 18 inches from fennel, which puts out root exudates that stunt many vegetables, and away from sunflowers, which pull water aggressively and shade out a crop that needs 6+ hours of direct sun to head properly.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies that commonly attack lettuce
Chives
Deters aphids and other soft-bodied insects with aromatic compounds
Carrots
Loosens soil for lettuce roots and doesn't compete for space
Radishes
Quick-growing root crop that breaks up soil and can be interplanted
Marigolds
Repels nematodes and various garden pests with natural compounds
Garlic
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and slugs
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Spinach
Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently
Keep Apart
Sunflowers
Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit lettuce growth
Broccoli
Competes heavily for nutrients and can shade out lettuce
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt lettuce growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Diseases
Powdery mildew (reduced resistance in Bingo compared to predecessors)
Troubleshooting Bingo
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapsing at soil level within the first 7–10 days after direct sowing — stems pinched thin or rotted off at the base
Likely Causes
- Damping off — typically Pythium spp. or Rhizoctonia solani — soil-borne fungi that thrive in cold, wet, poorly-draining beds
- Overwatering shortly after germination, which keeps the soil surface saturated and invites fungal activity
What to Do
- 1.Don't direct sow into cold, waterlogged soil — wait until soil temps are consistently above 50°F
- 2.Water in the morning so the soil surface dries before nightfall; avoid overhead watering on seedlings if you can
- 3.If you're seeing it bed after bed, rotate chicory out of that spot for at least two seasons and amend with compost to improve drainage
White powdery coating on the upper surface of leaves, usually showing up after plants have been in the ground 30–40 days
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew — Golovinomyces cichoracearum or related Erysiphales — Bingo carries reduced resistance to this compared to some earlier chicory selections, so expect it earlier and more aggressively than you might on other varieties
- Tight spacing below 6 inches between plants, combined with humid conditions that trap moisture around the foliage
What to Do
- 1.Space plants at least 6–8 inches apart with rows 12–18 inches wide — that gap matters more with Bingo than with older, more resistant chicory types
- 2.Strip heavily infected leaves and bin them; don't compost them
- 3.Potassium bicarbonate spray at label rate can slow spread if you catch the coating while it's still patchy
Leaves turning bitter and fibrous well before the 115-day mark, or the plant sending up a 3–4 foot flower stalk by mid-July
Likely Causes
- Heat stress — sustained daytime highs above 85–90°F push Bingo into reproductive mode faster than the seed packet suggests
- Late spring sowing that puts the bulk of vegetative growth into July and August heat instead of the cooler shoulder months
What to Do
- 1.In zone 7, finish your spring direct sow by early May so roots are sizing up before peak summer arrives
- 2.If the stalk shoots up, cut it back to 6 inches — plants often resprout usable leaves once daytime temps drop back below 80°F in September
- 3.For the most palatable heads, aim for a fall harvest: count back 115 days from your first frost (around November 15 in central Georgia) and sow in late July
Ragged holes chewed through outer leaves overnight, with irregular slime trails visible on the soil or foliage by morning
Likely Causes
- Slugs — Deroceras reticulatum and related species — drawn to the broad, dense leaves of chicory and most active after rain or heavy irrigation
- Moist mulch or plant debris piled against the base of plants, giving slugs daytime cover within a few inches of the crop
What to Do
- 1.Pull mulch back 3–4 inches from each plant's base; check underneath during the day and drop any slugs you find into soapy water
- 2.Set shallow beer traps at soil level and empty them each morning
- 3.Iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) scattered around the bed is effective on edibles — reapply after any rain over half an inch
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Bingo lettuce from seed to harvest?▼
What is the flavor profile of Bingo lettuce?▼
Is Bingo lettuce good for beginner gardeners?▼
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What are the main advantages of Bingo over older Belgian endive varieties?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.