Heirloom

Sempre Bianca

Cichorium endivia

Wikimedia Commons

Soft, mildly flavored leaves provide excellent loft and color contrast to mixes. Narrow petioles for a long harvest window. Fast growing and upright.

Harvest

35d

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 Sempre Bianca in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 lettuce →

Zone Map

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Sempre Bianca · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-draining loam amended with compost; prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0)

WaterRegular, consistent moisture; prefers evenly moist soil without waterlogging

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMild, delicate, buttery with no bitterness; tender leaf structure provides soft mouthfeel

ColorPale green

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

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

Succession Planting

Direct sow every 14–21 days starting March 1 in zone 7, and keep going through early May. Sempre Bianca bolts and turns bitter once daytime highs are consistently above 80°F, so any succession planting after mid-May is a gamble. At 35 days to harvest, a late-April sowing will just about make it before the heat arrives.

Pick it back up in late August for a fall run. Sow through early October — the plants handle light frost down to about 28°F, which extends your window well into November in most of zone 7. Fall endive is almost always better than spring: slower growth from cooling temperatures means tighter heads and less bitterness.

Complete Growing Guide

Soft, mildly flavored leaves provide excellent loft and color contrast to mixes. Narrow petioles for a long harvest window. Fast growing and upright. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Sempre Bianca is 35 baby to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Cold Tolerant.

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

Sempre Bianca reaches harvest at 35 baby from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

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 Sempre Bianca at peak tenderness around day 35 for best storage potential. Store freshly cut heads in perforated plastic bags at 32–40°F with 95% humidity; they'll keep for up to two weeks under these conditions. A standard refrigerator crisper drawer works well if you mist lightly every few days to prevent wilting.

For preservation, freezing isn't recommended due to texture loss, but blanching and freezing works acceptably for cooked applications. Light fermentation is viable—simply layer shredded leaves with salt (2–3% by weight) in clean jars, weight down, and let sit at room temperature for 7–10 days until tangy. Drying is possible but yields minimal nutritional value.

Sempre Bianca's tender, pale inner leaves are particularly prone to browning at cut edges; use a ceramic or plastic knife rather than steel to minimize oxidation and extend visual appeal in storage.

History & Origin

Sempre Bianca is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, India

Advantages

+Soft, mild leaves create excellent visual appeal in salad mixes
+Fast 35-day maturity enables quick harvests and succession planting
+Narrow petioles allow extended picking without harvesting entire plant
+Upright growth habit maximizes space efficiency in tight gardens
+Easy difficulty makes it ideal for beginner vegetable growers

Considerations

-Endive varieties prone to bitter flavor when stressed by heat
-Narrow stems may be fragile during heavy rain or wind
-Requires consistent moisture to prevent premature bolting or tip burn
-Less cold-hardy than some chicory relatives in harsh winters

Companion Plants

Chives and garlic are the most practical companions here. Both release sulfur compounds that disorient aphids — a consistent pressure on endive — and neither competes seriously for root space with a shallow-rooted crop like Sempre Bianca. French marigolds (Tagetes patula specifically) earn a spot too: their root exudates suppress certain soil nematodes in the genus Meloidogyne, and they pull flea beetles away from the leaf canopy above ground. Radishes are worth tucking in at the edges — they mature in 25–30 days and loosen compaction before the endive's roots need the space.

Fennel is allelopathic to most vegetables, and endive gets the short end of that badly — plants within a foot or two tend to stunt out for no obvious reason until you pull the fennel. Broccoli is a problem for a different reason: it's a heavy nitrogen feeder that hosts some of the same aphid species you're already trying to keep off your endive. Those two crops need their own beds.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and improves lettuce flavor while providing natural pest deterrent

Marigolds

Deters nematodes, aphids, and other harmful insects while attracting beneficial predators

Carrots

Different root depths prevent competition and carrots help break up soil for lettuce roots

Radishes

Quick-growing radishes break up soil and can be harvested before lettuce needs full space

Spinach

Similar growing requirements and harvest times, efficient use of garden space

Garlic

Natural fungicide properties help prevent lettuce diseases and repels aphids

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while adding edible flowers

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps that control lettuce pests

Keep Apart

Broccoli

Competes for similar nutrients and space, can shade lettuce and stunt growth

Sunflowers

Allelopathic effects inhibit lettuce germination and growth, plus creates excessive shade

Fennel

Strong allelopathic properties inhibit growth of lettuce and most other garden plants

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, lettuce mosaic virus, bottom rot (in excessive moisture)

Troubleshooting Sempre Bianca

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

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 1–2 weeks after direct sowing — stem pinches off, plant tips over

Likely Causes

Damping off — a complex of soil-borne fungi (Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani) that thrives in cold, wet, poorly-drained soil
Overwatering or planting too early into soil that hasn't warmed past 40°F

What to Do

1.Don't replant into the same spot immediately — let the bed dry out, then amend with compost to improve drainage before resowing
2.Sow shallowly, about 1/4 inch deep, and water in the morning so surface moisture dries before night
3.If starting in trays, use a sterile seed-starting mix and bottom-water only — NC State Extension's organic IPM guidance points to avoiding excess surface moisture as the primary cultural control

Pale yellow patches on upper leaf surface with grayish-purple fuzzy growth on the underside, appearing in cool, wet stretches

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) — spreads rapidly when nights are cool (50–60°F) and humidity stays high
Crowded planting at less than 6-inch spacing that traps moisture between leaves

What to Do

1.Remove and trash (not compost) affected leaves as soon as you spot them
2.Space plants at least 6–8 inches apart and avoid overhead irrigation in the evening
3.Rotate endive and other chicories out of that bed for at least one full season — Bremia persists in soil debris

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Sempre Bianca lettuce take to grow?▼

Sempre Bianca reaches harvest-ready maturity in 35 days from sowing under ideal conditions (full sun to partial shade, consistent moisture, cool temperatures). You can begin harvesting individual outer leaves as early as day 25-28 for baby greens, or wait until day 35 for full heads. Warm weather may accelerate bolting and shorten the window, while cool spring/fall conditions can extend it slightly.

Is Sempre Bianca good for container gardening?▼

Yes, Sempre Bianca is excellent for containers. Its upright, compact habit fits easily in 5-6 inch pots (one plant per pot) or window boxes. Use high-quality potting soil, ensure drainage holes, and water consistently since containers dry faster than in-ground beds. Container-grown lettuce may mature 2-3 days faster due to soil warmth, but bolting risk increases in summer heat—provide afternoon shade in warm climates.

Can you grow Sempre Bianca year-round?▼

Sempre Bianca grows well in spring and fall when temperatures stay 50-75°F. In summer, it bolts quickly without afternoon shade and consistent moisture. In winter, it can be grown in most zones under row cover or in a cold frame. For year-round supply, succession sow every 2-3 weeks during the plant's preferred seasons and take a break during peak summer heat unless you have reliable shade and cooling systems.

What does Sempre Bianca lettuce taste like?▼

Sempre Bianca has a mild, delicate flavor without bitterness or peppery notes. The soft, tender leaves provide an almost buttery mouthfeel, making it ideal for simple vinaigrettes that won't overpower the subtle taste. It's prized more for its texture and visual appeal than strong flavor, which is why it pairs well in mixed green salads where it adds loft and light color contrast.

How often can you harvest Sempre Bianca?▼

Using the cut-and-come-again method, you can harvest outer leaves every 3-5 days once the plant reaches 25+ days of growth, potentially extending production 2-3 weeks beyond the 35-day maturity. Each leaf removal diverts energy to the growing center, keeping the plant productive. Stop harvesting if the center begins to elongate (bolting), and harvest the remaining head immediately.

Is Sempre Bianca heirloom, and why does that matter?▼

Yes, Sempre Bianca is an heirloom—a traditional Italian lettuce variety maintained through open-pollination and seed saving for generations. This means you can save seeds from your best plants to grow identical lettuce next season, reducing your seed costs and deepening your connection to gardening history. Heirlooms also tend to be more flavorful and adapted to variable growing conditions than modern hybrids.