If you love the tangy flavor of arugula, whether you're adding a zesty kick to a salad, substituting lettuce for a sandwich, using it as a pizza topping, or adding a tangy kick to pasta dishes, consider growing your own. Arugula (Eruca sativa) is a fast-growing annual that's usually ready to harvest in 30-50 days, allowing you to enjoy a harvest in a short time. This leafy green is best grown in the spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Heat will encourage arugula to flower and go to seed.
Here's everything you need to know to grow this delicious vegetable at home.
Arugula Overview
Genus Name: Eruca sativa Scientific Name: Arugula Plant Type: Annual Light Hours: Full sun, full sun Height: 1-3 feet Width: 6-12 inches Flower Color: White Leaf Color: Blue/Green Features: Ideal for container growing, easy care Zones: 10, 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Method: Seed
Where to Plant Arugula
Grow arugula in full sun or partial shade. It can be grown in containers, raised beds, or in the ground. Arugula is a member of the cruciferous family, which includes kale, broccoli, and cauliflower. It is best to rotate these crops to keep the soil well nourished and minimize the spread of pests and diseases.
How and when to plant arugula
Sow arugula seeds in spring and fall. Summer is not a good season to grow it because the heat causes the plants to elongate instead of grow leaves. Sow seeds about 1/4 deep and space them 1 inch apart. If you sow arugula in rows, space each row about 1 foot apart. Sow additional seeds every 2 to 3 weeks in spring and fall to extend the leaf harvest.
Arugula Care Tips
Arugula is a leafy vegetable that is easy to grow as long as you meet its basic needs.
Light
Arugula grows best in full sun, needing about six hours of sun per day. If you're growing it in temperate or hot climates, partial shade works best. However, arugula tends to grow flower stalks and set seeds as temperatures rise, so plan to sow seeds in spring and fall.
Soil and Water
Arugula prefers well-drained, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, enriched with nutrient-rich fertilizers such as compost. This leafy green can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions.
Water your plant regularly to help it thrive. Check to see if the soil is dry; if it is, it's time to water. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Arugula has shallow roots.
Temperature and Humidity
Arugula thrives in cool temperatures between 40° F and 70° F. This green leafy vegetable can tolerate frost and cold temperatures, and it adds a sweetness to the leaves that helps to counteract the spicy flavor.
The ideal humidity for arugula is 30-40%, but it will grow in a wider range.
fertilizer
If you plant arugula in nutrient-rich soil, you usually won't need to fertilize it. However, pale leaves indicate that the plant is lacking in nutrients. If this is the case, apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer at half strength, following the directions on the product package.
Planting and repotting arugula
Arugula is easy to grow in containers. Fill a 12-inch terracotta pot with good-quality organic potting soil. Moisten the potting soil and sow the seeds on the surface. Sift or lightly sprinkle soil over the seeds and press down lightly. Place the container outdoors in the shade for a few days until the seeds germinate. Then move the container to a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy while the plant grows. Arugula is an annual plant, so it doesn't need to be repotted.
Pests and Problems
Arugula generally does not get sick, but it is advisable to keep an eye on the plant: powdery mildew can develop on arugula if there is insufficient air circulation.
Aphids, flea beetles, slugs and cabbage bugs are attracted to arugula, so monitor your plants and remove any bugs or slugs or spray the plants with water to get rid of the pests.
How to grow arugula
The easiest way to grow arugula is by sowing seeds. Arugula will germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40°F. Sow the seeds in a prepared bed and cover lightly with soil. Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Arugula will usually germinate within a week.
Arugula harvest
When the arugula is about 3 inches long, it's time to harvest. Cut off the outer leaves with scissors or pick them off by hand, being careful to leave the base intact.
Arugula matures in 30-50 days, depending on the variety. Baby or small leaves can be harvested sooner. For the tastiest leaves, eat them soon after picking.
Types of Arugula
“Astro”
Eruca sativa 'Astro' is a fast growing variety that will give you baby leaves in just 3 weeks. The plants are vigorous and have a mild flavour. You can eat the white flowers once they produce seed, but the remaining leaves will have a stronger flavour.
'Red Dragon'
Eruca sativa 'Red Dragon' is an arugula that looks great in any salad, with beautiful deeply lobed oaky green leaves with a striking purple central vein. The leaves have a mild but spicy flavour.
“Sylvetta”
Eruca sativa 'Sylvetta' is a tender, crunchy arugula variety that initially tastes nutty and sweet, then has a slight tangy kick. The leaves are long and thin, with small leaves ready to harvest in 35 days and full-sized leaves maturing in 50 days.
'wasabi'
If you like spicy vegetables, you should grow Eruca sativa 'Wasabi'. As the name suggests, this vegetable is particularly hot. It goes particularly well with Asian cuisine, but it also adds a piquant flavor to any dish.
Companion Plants for Arugula
Beets
Arugula and beets grow well in the garden because they both thrive in cool climates and use different spaces. Beets grow underground and take up a lot of space, while arugula has a shallow root system and doesn't need a lot of soil. As the beet plant gets larger, the leaves provide shade for the arugula. Beet varieties range from those with crimson roots to those with golden yellow or candy-striped red and white roots.
celery
Both arugula and celery are cool-climate plants that prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Celery leaves provide shade for the arugula. Homegrown celery takes about four and a half months to grow and is often darker and slightly smaller than commercial varieties.
mint
Planting mint near arugula will help reduce pests in your garden. Mint is known to repel aphids, flea beetles, and whiteflies. If you combine mint with arugula, plant it in a container to prevent the mint from spreading and taking over your garden.
FAQ
Is arugula hard to grow?
No, arugula is an easy leafy green to grow. Provide it with rich, well-drained soil and keep the soil moist by watering it regularly, and you'll have a delicious harvest within a few weeks.
How can I continue to grow arugula?
Pinch or cut off the outer leaves. Leaves will regrow if you do not pull the entire stem or damage the base of the plant. Do not harvest more than one-third of the plant at one time.
Can you cook arugula?
Arugula is most commonly eaten raw in salads or sprinkled on top of other dishes, but it can also be added to soups and pasta dishes.
