How to plant and grow Arugula

Arugula (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) is a fast-growing annual leafy vegetable that is a member of the mustard family and is grown as a delicious salad vegetable. You can start growing arugula in spring or late summer and replant each growing season. Not only does this guarantee a good harvest, it also encourages you to pick the leaves as soon as possible, as they have a fresh, spicy flavor rather than the bitterness of mature leaves. Wait for the plant to mature to bloom or sprout so the leaves are inedible.

 

Family	Brassicaceae
Growing zones	N/A
Growing season(s)	cool weather: spring, fall, winter
Spacing:	3 to 6 inches
Start indoors or direct sow	direct sow
Indoor sowing date	N/A
Earliest spring outdoor planting	6 weeks before average last frost
Soil temperature	40° to 75°
Fall planting	2 to 6 weeks before average first frost
Sun needs	4+ hours
Water needs	low; higher in hot weather Harvest category: weather dependent
Harvest category	one harvest
Fun Fact	Though we eat it like lettuce, arugula is actually a member of Brassicaceae, along with broccoli and cabbage. This makes it easy to recognize when the seed germinates, because its sprouts have the distinctive “bow tie” shape.

Snapshot	One of the easiest and most popular greens to grow, arugula thrives in all but the hottest heat and coldest cold. Its distinctive peppery flavor adds some pep to salad. You can also enjoy a bowlful of this flavorful green.
Starting	Plant seeds in shallow rows 1 to 2 inches apart, or scatter on top of soil for a bed of greens. Thin to 3 to 6 inches apart. With a low-growing habit and flexible sunlight requirements, arugula can be planted at the base of taller crops. Planted densely, arugula plants will grow smaller but will smother weeds better. Keep the area moist until germination.
Growing	Since arugula prefers cooler temperatures, mulch after the plants have grown to about 6 inches tall in order to keep soil temperatures cool. Keep watered in warm weather.
Harvesting and Storing	Begin picking leaves when they are at least 3 inches long. Harvest from the outside of the plant first. The leaves taste best when they are picked young; larger leaves develop a more marked peppery flavor. Store the leaves promptly in a refrigerator to prevent wilting. Arugula is very cold tolerant, and in many areas you can continue to harvest it throughout the winter.
Common Problem	As temperatures rise in the summer, arugula will begin to bolt in a manner similar to other greens. Unlike lettuce, bolted arugula leaves aren’t inedible, but they will turn spicy. If you have the space, allow bolted arugula to flower, which will attract beneficial insects. Left to complete its life cycle, arugula will self- seed, providing you with another planting and harvest.