Clodia

Cichorium endivia

green leaf on brown and black marble surface

Plants are upright and leaves stay narrow for a long harvest window. Strap leaves with ruffled margins add loft and mildly bitter flavor to salad mixes. For baby leaf only.

Harvest

29d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

10-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Clodia in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 lettuce →

Zone Map

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Clodia · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-amended loam with compost, pH 6.0-7.0, consistently moist

WaterRegular, consistent moisture; avoid waterlogging

FlavorMildly bitter with subtle complexity, tender and delicate in texture—adds sophistication to salad mixes

ColorMedium green with lighter green and reddish undertones

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	June – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	June – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	May – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	May – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	May – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	April – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	April – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	March – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	February – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	February – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow every 14–21 days starting March 1 in zone 7, and keep going through early May. Clodia matures in 29 days, so a mid-March sowing lands you April harvests before heat becomes a problem. Resume sowing in late August once daytime highs drop back below 80°F — endive handles light frost and actually sweetens up after a night in the 28–32°F range. Stop the fall run by early October in zone 7; seedlings started after that won't size up before hard freezes arrive.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruit is obovoid to cylindrical in shape and slightly ribbed.

Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Harvest time: Summer

Edibility: Leaves are edible raw or cooked. Blue flowers are used raw in a salad, as a garnish or pickled.

Storage & Preservation

Harvest Clodia endive at peak tenderness and store unwashed heads in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, maintaining 32–35°F and 90–95% humidity. Fresh heads remain crisp for 7–10 days under these conditions. For longer preservation, blanching followed by freezing works well: briefly immerse whole or chopped leaves in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, cool in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers for up to eight months. Fermentation is also effective—finely shred the leaves, salt generously (about 2% by weight), pack tightly in a jar, and allow 1–2 weeks of fermentation at room temperature before refrigerating. Clodia's slightly bitter, nutty character deepens pleasantly through fermentation. Note that endive's tender, fine-textured leaves are prone to bruising; handle gently during harvest and storage to minimize browning at cut surfaces.

History & Origin

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, India

Advantages

+Edible: Leaves are edible raw or cooked. Blue flowers are used raw in a salad, as a garnish or pickled.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Sap/Juice): Low severity
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Radishes and carrots are the most practical neighbors for Clodia. Radishes germinate in 5–7 days and act as a quick trap crop for flea beetles, which will chew on endive given the chance. Carrots occupy a deeper root zone than endive's shallow system, so they're genuinely non-competing rather than just tolerated — two plants pulling from different soil layers don't fight over the same moisture. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) along the bed edge earn their spot by deterring aphids through volatile scent compounds, and they give you a clean visual border that's easy to walk and scout.

Broccoli is the one to plant elsewhere. It feeds aggressively in the top 12 inches — exactly where Clodia's roots sit — and as brassica residue breaks down it releases glucosinolate-derived compounds that can suppress germination of nearby plants. That's a real problem if you're succession sowing every few weeks. Put at least 18 inches between them, or better, different beds entirely.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and other pests while improving lettuce flavor

Carrots

Deep roots don't compete with shallow lettuce roots, maximizes garden space

Radishes

Fast-growing radishes help loosen soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs the space

Marigolds

Natural pest deterrent that repels nematodes and aphids

Garlic

Strong scent deters slugs, snails, and aphids that commonly attack lettuce

Spinach

Similar growing requirements and can provide mutual shade in hot weather

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting lettuce

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs that prey on lettuce pests

Keep Apart

Broccoli

Heavy feeder that competes for nutrients and can overshadow lettuce

Parsley

Can attract carrot flies and may stunt lettuce growth through root competition

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds inhibit lettuce germination and growth

Nutrition Facts

Protein

0.742g(1%)

Carbs

3.37g(1%)

Fat

0.0738g(0%)

Vitamin K

20.5mcg(17%)

Iron

0.0332mg(0%)

Calcium

14.2mg(1%)

Potassium

139mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, slugs, snails, flea beetles

Diseases

Downy mildew, powdery mildew, Botrytis (gray mold) in humid conditions

Troubleshooting Clodia

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 7–10 days after planting, sometimes with fuzzy white mold visible on the soil surface

Likely Causes

Damping off — a fungal complex (commonly Pythium or Rhizoctonia) that thrives in cold, wet, poorly drained soil
Replanting the same bed with lettuce year after year without rotation, which allows pathogen load to build

What to Do

1.Hold off on watering until the top inch of soil is dry — overwatering accelerates this faster than anything else
2.If starting indoors, use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil pulled from the bed where this happened
3.Rotate lettuce out of that bed for at least one season; NC State's IPM guidance specifically flags repeated lettuce plantings in the same spot as a risk factor

Leaves develop a grayish-purple fuzzy coating on the undersides, with yellow patches on the upper surface

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) — spreads fast in cool, humid conditions with poor airflow
Crowded spacing below the 6-inch minimum, trapping moisture between plants

What to Do

1.Pull and trash affected outer leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Space plants at least 6–8 inches apart and switch to drip or base watering to keep foliage dry
3.If the problem recurs in the same bed, source a Bremia-resistant endive selection for that spot going forward

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Clodia lettuce take to grow?▼

Clodia reaches baby leaf harvest stage in just 29 days from direct sowing. This rapid maturity makes it one of the fastest lettuce varieties available, allowing you to harvest tender leaves within a month. You can extend production by 2–3 additional weeks using cut-and-come-again harvesting methods, where you remove outer leaves while leaving the center to continue growing.

Can you grow Clodia lettuce in containers?▼

Yes, Clodia is excellent for container growing. Its compact, upright habit and narrow leaf structure require minimal space. Use containers at least 6–8 inches deep with drainage holes, filled with quality potting soil or seed-starting mix amended with compost. You can plant multiple seedlings 6 inches apart in a single large container or window box. Keep soil consistently moist (not waterlogged) and provide 4–6 hours of daily sunlight or bright indirect light.

What does Clodia lettuce taste like?▼

Clodia has a mildly bitter flavor profile with subtle complexity, quite different from bland, sweet iceberg lettuce. The tender strap leaves deliver a delicate texture that pairs well in gourmet salad mixes, particularly alongside milder greens. The moderate bitterness adds depth without overwhelming, making it appealing to culinary professionals and home gardeners seeking sophisticated greens for salads and composed plates.

Is Clodia lettuce good for beginners?▼

Absolutely. Clodia is classified as an easy-to-grow variety requiring minimal care. It tolerates both full sun and partial shade, needs only consistent moisture and basic soil preparation, and produces harvestable leaves in less than a month. Beginners can achieve success with simple direct sowing, regular watering, and cut-and-come-again harvesting—no special techniques or equipment required.

When should you plant Clodia lettuce?▼

Direct sow Clodia in early spring (as soon as soil is workable) through early fall. For continuous harvests, sow seeds every 2 weeks. In hot climates, skip mid-summer plantings when temperatures exceed 75°F, as heat triggers bolting and bitterness. Fall plantings often produce the highest quality leaves due to cooler temperatures. Use 4–6 hours of daily sunlight (full sun in spring/fall, afternoon shade in summer).

How much space does Clodia lettuce need?▼

Clodia's compact, upright habit allows dense planting compared to heading lettuce types. Space seedlings 6–8 inches apart for baby leaf production, or even closer (4–6 inches) if harvesting cut-and-come-again. For direct-seeded rows, thin seedlings to 6–8 inches apart once true leaves emerge. This efficiency makes Clodia ideal for small gardens, raised beds, and container production where space is limited.