leafy · transplant
Escarole: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating escarole a few times a week needs about 5 plants in ~8 sq ft, worth about $10 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~3 sq ft | ~3 | ~$4 |
| 2 people | 3 | ~5 sq ft | ~4 | ~$6 |
| 4 people | 5 | ~8 sq ft | ~7 | ~$10 |
| 6 people | 8 | ~12 sq ft | ~10 | ~$16 |
Spacing
12" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
75 from transplant (90 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 5 | Jun 22 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – Apr 30 | Jul 2 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Jul 12 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 10 | Jul 22 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 | Aug 1 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Aug 22 – Sep 26 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 10 | Sep 11 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 21 | Sep 21 – Oct 26 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 1 head per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.5 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Aphids · Slugs & snails · Cutworms — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, radish, bunching-onion.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
17 kcal · 3.1 g fiber · 6.5 mg vitamin C · 314 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.