Cichorium endivia
Origin: Bordeaux, France
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~225
Germination tested 02/2026: 99%
Life cycle: Biennial
'Cornetto di Bordeaux' is an Italian strain of a French heirloom escarole from the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France. This is a classic escarole, great for soups, salads, or famous dishes like the simple but delicious white beans and escarole. Large green plants grow upright and produce lots of leaves with thick crunchy ribs. This variety is easy to grow, but does best when planted in fall.
These seeds come from growers Kelly Gelino and Sebastian Aguilar of Summertime Seeds in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
GROWING TIPS: Direct-sow in late summer or start in flats in mid-late summer and plant out in early fall (especially in milder climates). Worth starting in spring in places where winter can come on fast and cold.
