Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost, plant out after. Or direct sow 1 week before last frost in rows and thin to 6–12”. Before transplant, clip back ends of leaves to encourage new growth. Treat as biannual, sow one year, harvest the next. Keep moist during warm months. Keep the plants picked to enjoy the mildest leaves. Grow in partial to nearly full shade for larger, undivided leaves that stay tender and less bitter longer. Enjoy blanched leaves in the fall by covering with a flower pot for three weeks. Blanching reduces bitterness. Will self-seed and is difficult to remove once established. Plants may survive for 10 to 13 years in undisturbed locations. Surface sow, press into soil, do not cover. Soil pH 6.8–7.2. Hardiness zones 3–10. Perennial.
Usual seed life: 3–5 years.
Planting Depth
surface requires light
Soil Temp. Germ.
60–77˚FDays to Germ.
7–21Plant Spacing
5–12”Row Spacing
18”Days To Maturity
95Full Sun,
Moist Well Drained Soil