About Arugula
This wonderfully fast-growing cool-season leafy green gives a peppery depth that will improve your everyday salads and sandwiches. Grown since early Greek and Roman times, arugula is now considered a specialty item as it is paired with feta, walnuts, tomatoes, prosciutto, balsamic vinegar. Drop some arugula seeds in your garden or container during your cool season and enjoy the benefits of being able to harvest this salad green at will.
When to Plant Arugula Seeds
Plant your arugula seeds in the early Spring when the soil is between 40 and 65 degrees F.
Where to Plant Arugula Seeds
Arugula does best in nutrient-rich soil in full sun. However, arugula can withstand most soil conditions and even some partial shade.
How to Plant Arugula Seeds
Aruglula seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here.
Plant the seeds in your soil, cover them lightly with soil and water them down. The seeds will germinate within around 7 days. After the seedlings are around an inch tall, thin them out so there is 3 or 4 inches of space between each plant. Arugula does best with a fair amount of sun, soil that well-watered and high in nitrogen. If you have nitrogen-poor soil, fertilizer can help amend this.
How to Harvest Arugula
Arugula generally takes around 40 days to become fully mature to harvest. Pinch off the outer leaves of the arugula to harvest. Just picking the outer leaves will allow the plant to stay intact and keep producing leaves to harvest. The more you harvest, the more the plant will yield. The flavor of arugula will get stronger as you harvest the leaves. You can harvest the leaves until the flavor gets too strong for your taste. If your arugula is melting, cover it with shade tents to provide some relief from the hot summer sun.
