← Plant Guides

How to Grow Chicory 'Pain de Sucre'

Wikimedia Commons

Chicory 'Pain de Sucre'

Cichorium intybus var. foliosum

vegetable

Pain de Sucre is a Belgian endive-type chicory prized for its tender, slightly sweet leaves and compact, upright growth habit. It produces a dense head of pale green to creamy-white leaves with a milder, less bitter flavor than many chicory varieties. This heirloom cultivar is excellent for fresh salads and light cooking.

When should you plant Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' timeline →

Example Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Chicory 'Pain de Sucre'

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Chicory 'Pain de Sucre'

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade in hot climates
💧
Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 times per week. Avoid waterlogging. Drought stress can increase bitterness. In cool seasons, reduce watering frequency.
📏
Spacing: 8 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-90 days from direct seeding; 60-75 days for transplants
🌱
Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches; direct seed in garden or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with good organic content
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost or aged manure Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) Calcium (lime if pH is below 6.0)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; prefers cooler seasons (spring and fall)

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

Sign up free to see if Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Seed germinates in 7-10 days at 60-70°F. Tiny seedlings emerge with cotyledons, developing first true leaves.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to proper spacing when 2-3 inches tall. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops 4-6 leaves on upright rosette. Foliage is bright green, deeply lobed or finely cut depending on variety. Root system expands downward.

Water regularly; maintain consistent soil moisture. Begin light fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced or nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Monitor for weeds and remove competing plants.

3

Head Formation

2-3 weeks

Leaves become more upright and compact, forming a dense, slightly elongated head. Inner leaves blanch to pale green or cream. Flavor becomes milder and sweeter.

Continue regular watering; do not overwater as excess moisture reduces sugar concentration. Side-dress with compost if growth slows. Reduce nitrogen to encourage leaf quality over size.

4

Pre-Harvest Maturity

1-2 weeks

Head reaches full size (4-6 inches tall, 2-3 inches wide), with tightly packed leaves. Color ranges from pale green to cream at the core. Leaves are tender and crisp.

Reduce watering slightly to concentrate sugars. Avoid bruising or damaging outer leaves. Monitor for pests and diseases as harvest approaches.

5

Harvest

Harvest window is 1-2 weeks before bolting

Head is compact, firm to slight pressure, and mature. Outer leaves may be slightly darker; inner leaves are pale and sweet.

Cut heads at soil level with a sharp knife or pull entire plant. Harvest in cool morning for best crispness. Use immediately or refrigerate in plastic bags for up to 2 weeks.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Lettuce Arugula Spinach Beets Carrots Radishes Thyme Borage Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Anise Dill Potatoes Tomatoes (in tight spacing)

Common Pests

  • Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs; use reflective mulches

  • and

    Handpick at dawn/dusk; create barriers with copper tape or diatomaceous earth; encourage ground beetles

  • Use row covers on young seedlings; spray with spinosad if damage is severe; maintain plant vigor with consistent watering

  • Hand-remove caterpillars; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) if infestations develop; use fine netting

  • Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove infected leaves promptly; apply copper fungicide if severe

Uses

🍳

Fresh Salads

Culinary

Pain de Sucre's tender, slightly sweet leaves are ideal for mixed green salads, adding a delicate bitter-sweet note without overwhelming the palate. Inner leaves are particularly mild and crisp. [source]

🍳

Braising & Light Cooking

Culinary

The compact heads can be halved lengthwise and braised gently in butter or olive oil, or briefly sautéed. Cooking mellows the natural chicory bitterness into a pleasant, slightly sweet flavor. [source]

💊

Digestive & Liver Support

Medicinal

Chicory contains inulin and other prebiotic compounds that support gut health and promote beneficial bacteria growth. Traditionally used as a digestive tonic and to support liver function. [source]

🏠

Chicory Coffee Substitute

Household

Chicory roots can be roasted and ground as a caffeine-free coffee substitute or additive. This practice is particularly popular in Mediterranean and Southern U.S. cuisines. [source]

🦋

Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Support

Wildlife

If allowed to bolt, Pain de Sucre produces attractive blue flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The plant also provides habitat for beneficial insects. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest Pain de Sucre chicory when heads are firm and compact, typically 70-90 days after direct seeding. Cut at soil level with a sharp, clean knife in the cool morning for maximum crispness. Heads can be harvested anytime after reaching 3-4 inches tall, though flavor improves as they mature. In mild climates, succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Outer leaves can be removed and inner head left to regrow slightly. Best flavor is achieved in cool weather (55-70°F); heat stress increases bitterness.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Pain de Sucre translates to 'Pain de Sucre' (literally 'sugar bread' in French), referring to the variety's notably sweet and tender character compared to more bitter chicory types.
  • 🌱 Belgian endive and Pain de Sucre chicory are the same species (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum); Pain de Sucre is grown above ground for its natural pale coloring, while Belgian endive is traditionally forced and blanched underground for extreme tenderness.
  • 🌱 Chicory has been cultivated for over 2,000 years and was used by ancient Egyptians as both food and medicine; during the Napoleonic wars, chicory root became a valued coffee adulterant due to coffee shortages.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Cultivar Full Sun Heirloom Partial Shade True Leaves
Shop Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Chicory 'Pain de Sucre' timeline →