Do you want a leafy green with a little kick that’s ready to harvest in just 3 to 4 weeks? Then let me share with you how to grow arugula in the comfort of your own home.
Let me tell you why this wonderful vegetable should be a welcome addition to your garden. First, it’s super healthy. This leafy green is nutrient-packed with all sorts of important vitamins and minerals.
It’s an excellent source of vitamins C, K, and A. It is also rich in Calcium, Potassium, and Folate. A research published by PLOS One back in 2014 even credited arugula to have high cancer-fighting agents.
Arugula is not only healthy, but it’s also super tasty as well! It has a distinct taste, unlike other leafy greens that have mild ones. Slightly spicy and bitter, arugula brings a zappy pepper taste to any salads or wraps.
But if you want a milder flavored arugula, you can just harvest some earlier and have yourself a fresh batch of baby arugula.
Besides being both delicious and healthy, one of the reasons why you should grow these in your garden is because it’s super easy! Quick to plant and quick to grow, you’ll have fresh arugula in no time. Plus, this is a vegetable that you can prolong the harvesting period.
Longer harvesting period means more supply of arugula for you and your family!
I’ve always had a good experience and plenty of yields whenever I grow arugula in my garden so I want to share everything I know to the next batch of gardeners out there.
Grow Arugula:
Difficulty Level, Maintenance, And Other Advantages
Arugula is one of the easiest leafy greens to grow. This cool-weather crop is a quick-growing, low maintenance plant that can be harvested in just 3 to 4 weeks. Even if you start it from seeds, it’s that fast!
This is a perfect plant to grow especially to the people who are living in regions with short growing seasons.
You can quickly taste the success of your cultivation in no time at all. Plus, this vegetable doesn’t need much to thrive. Just give it a fertile soil and place it somewhere warm and sunny and your plant will grow well. Just make sure you plant it just in time for a cool-weather harvest.
Another perk of growing arugula at home is that even if you have limited space, you can still grow them. These plants can grow perfectly well in containers. And planting them isn’t even complicated. There’s no need to sow seeds indoors you can directly seed them in the ground.
Oh, and did I mention you can have a continuous harvest with arugula? Just sow new seeds every 2 to 3 weeks for a fresh new batch of arugula. Or just cut the leaves that you need and wait for the arugula plant to regrow some more.
Below is all the information you need to grow arugula at home—from planting to harvest. Here’s how you can grow your own arugula plants.
Planting Arugula
When is the best time to plant arugula?
Before you start preparing your gardening tools and scoping your yard to start your arugula, do check your calendar first. The best time to plant arugula is during spring or late summer.
In this section, it’s better if you also check your local frost dates to be more accurate.
You can sow arugula seeds as soon as danger of frost has passed. Make sure that the soil can easily be worked in. Plant arugula in the garden as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the last local frost in spring.
If your timing is right you’ll have your arugula ready for a cool-weather harvest. And that’s what you want. Prolonged heat can make your arugula taste bitter. The cool weather will help make your plants’ eating quality better.
Arugula prefer to grow in temperatures ranging from 45° to 65°F (10-18°C).
After your initial sowing of seeds in the garden, you can start sowing seeds every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. You don’t want to plant a big batch of arugula plants in one sitting. You might not harvest them all at the right time and they might just bolt.
It’s better if you sow in succession. Plus, your arugula will be fresher that way.
You can also sow seeds in the late-summer after high temperatures have passed. This will result in a fall or early-winter harvest.
How do I start an arugula plant?
The best way to grow arugula is by directly sowing seeds in the ground. As soon as the ground can be worked in during spring, sow your seeds. They have a short growing period so start as soon as possible so you can sow another set of seeds for the following weeks.
Make sure the seeds you buy are of high quality. See to it that it’s pathogen-free to avoid plant diseases in the future. If possible, purchase your seed packets from a reputable source just to be sure. Check the seeds I’ve used before.
They’re fairly inexpensive and were great in my garden. You can buy them online through Amazon. Alternatively, you can visit your local garden center and ask if there are any arugula seeds available.
What arugula varieties should I grow?
Arugula goes by many names like Rocket, Salad Rocket or Roquette, and apparently they also go by many varieties. One of the things I love about gardening is that I get to pick what variety of vegetables I get to plant. And since we’re starting with seeds, we have even more options.
There are two types of arugula that are popular among gardeners: Wild Arugula and Cultivated Arugula.
- Wild Arugula (Diplotaxisx) – this variety has a stronger flavor between the two. It’s spicy and hot. It’s more pungent than the cultivated arugula. This kind of arugula produces yellow flowers and has smooth and serrated leaves.
Under wild arugula, you can try Olive Leaf (Diplotaxis integrifolia). This one has less of a pungent flavor. Its leaves are pale, smooth and elongated.
Perennial Wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is another good cultivar. Compared to Olive Leaf, this one has a stronger taste and smell. Its leaves are also greener and deeply serrated. - Cultivated Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) – this is the tamer version of arugula. Tamer in terms of flavor and scent. Most cultivated arugulas have wavy serrations. Its flowers are white and its leaves are oval.
Other standard cultivars that you might wanna try are Astro (early, heat-tolerant), Esmee (oak-type leaves, good for salads) and Surrey (appears as a wild arugula but is easier to grow).
These varieties have more or less the same growing conditions so you wouldn’t have any problems trying different ones.
Although, it wouldn’t hurt to consider the length of your growing season. Early varieties that only require shorter days to mature are probably the best for that.
These cultivars will have varying growing time so pick what best suits your region and your taste.
Take note: Good quality seeds gives you a better chance for a successful harvest. Buy fresh quality seeds from a trusted source. You can buy a seed pack at your local garden center or if you want more choices, purchase one online (link to Amazon).
Should I grow arugula in a container or grow it in the ground?
You can grow arugula in garden beds or in containers. Depending on the space you have in your house, you can choose either of the two.
If you do want to grow them in containers, I find that giant containers aren’t really necessary since the roots of arugula are pretty shallow.
As long as they’re at least 6 inches deep that’s good enough. Although I suggest you find a wider container if possible.
You might want to plant more arugula in the future once you get a taste of it so a wide shallow container will do.
If you have raised beds, that’s wonderful. You have a good set-up for growing a batch of arugula enough for your family.
How do I prepare the soil?
- Raised bed – Prepare your garden beds by incorporating aged compost to your soil before planting. Make sure that they’re mixed in properly. Your arugula plants will prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
You can go to a local agriculture extension unit to test your soil, amend when needed 1 week prior to growing. - Container – Get a high-quality potting mix. I use this one from Amazon on most of my plants, so you might want to give that a try. It’s pretty cheap but works wonders for my growing plants.
You can also go to your local garden center to buy one.
How do I plant the arugula?
- Raised bed – Sow arugula seed directly on the compost-rich soil. Place them ¼ inch (6mm) deep. Allow 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of space between each arugula within the row.
The rows should be 10 to 12 inches apart. Keep the soil evenly moist.
In just a few days the seeds will germinate. When the seedling sprouts and grew 4 inches tall, thin them to 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Don’t throw the thinning out. You can add them to sandwiches or salads.
Sow another set of seeds every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. - Container – Fill your chosen container with potting mix. Gently flatten it out by patting it with your hand. Distribute the seeds uniformly (maybe space them at least 1 inch apart). Pat the seeds onto the soil. Do this gently.
You can choose to cover them lightly with a potting mix again or use a seed-starting mix over the seeds. Gently pat them again.
Carefully add water making sure that you don’t disturb the seeds. You don’t want them to get in the soil too deep.
Growing Arugula
How and when do I thin my arugula plant?
If you planted directly on the ground using a raised bed then thin the seedlings to 6 inches (15 cm) apart when already grew 4 inches tall. Don’t throw the thinning out. They’re perfectly fine to eat. You can add them to wraps, sandwiches or salads.
If you planted in containers, it’s usually fine even if you don’t thin them out but just to be sure, thin the seedlings 1 to 3 inches apart when they’re about 1 to 2 inches tall.
How much water does my arugula plant really need?
The standard 1 inch of water per week will do. You just need to keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.
How often does my arugula plants need to be fertilized?
The aged compost or organic matter that was added before planting will give the arugula enough nutrients to grow. They have a very short growing period so they don’t really need to be fed.
However, you can add aged compost or organic matter on the raised beds again at midseason. This will help especially those who did succession sowing.
How much sun does my arugula plant need?
Arugula will thrive in full sun but they can tolerate partial shade. The standard six hours of sunlight daily will do. Make sure to plant your containers in full sun.
Which climate better suits arugula? (Best Hardiness Zones)
Arugula thrives in cool weather climates. That’s why it’s best to grow them in early spring so they can be harvested just in time for a cool weather crop. These plants do not like hot weather and will literally grow bitter if grown in hot conditions.
But you can always plant heat-tolerant crops if you are in warmer regions. You’ll have a better chance at a successful harvest that way.
The best USDA zones to grow arugula are from 3 to 11.
How long does it take to grow arugula?
Depending on the variety you choose to grow and the growing conditions in your garden, days to maturity varies. Although, most arugula varieties take at 3 to 4 weeks from seed to grow to their optimum harvesting size.
When they’ve grown to 3 to 4 inches long, you can start harvesting them. You can harvest even earlier if you want the milder tasting baby arugula.
When grown in partial shade, it will take longer for the plants to be ready for harvest.
What are the common pests and common diseases that could ruin my arugula plant and how do I avoid it?
As you watch your arugula plant growing, you might be worried about the pests that might attack them or diseases that can weaken them. It’s understandable, even I got anxious when I first started gardening.
But one thing that always helps is by being prepared. If you’ve followed my tips and assured that your plants have the best growing conditions, you have very little to worry about. But it doesn’t hurt to know what could attack them.
Here are the following pests and common diseases you need to look out for:
- Downy mildew – You can spot this disease when you observe yellow spots on leaf surfaces and patches of mold on the underside. This nasty disease affects young, tender leaves. Prolonged leaf wetness is one of its causes.
To avoid this, plant pathogen-free seed. Remember high quality seeds will go a long way. Also, do not overcrowd your plants. Avoid overhead irrigation. Water your celery from the base. - White rust – If you see white blisters or pustules on the underside of the leaves of your arugula plants, it might be suffering from white rust. Its upper leaves might also turn yellow.
Mostly caused by high moisture probably if you overwater them. You may practice crop rotation with non-cruciferous varieties to prevent disease build-up. - Aphids – Keep your garden clean. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that often appear in clumps. Always be on the lookout for these critters. They can come in black, brown, red or green colors. They may suck your plant’s juices and can transmit viral diseases.
- Mealy bugs – You can see the nymphs and adult mealy bugs near the base of your plant in clumps. Commonly expected during the dry months. A complete infestation of these pests may dry out your plant but you can easily control this.
To prevent, keep the soil weed free. Always remove the dried up clumps when you see one. You can also use this neem oil garlic emulsion (2%) from Amazon on the affected areas.
To control, you can use registered chemicals in proper amounts as instructed. But I prefer the more organic approach. I use natural repellent mixes like garlic or onion extracts.
Here are some more pests to look out for:
- Slugs
- Caterpillar
- Birds
- Aphids
An effective way to control or prevent these pests from attacking your plant besides keeping them healthy is by spraying them with an organic pesticides like Neem Oil. See to it that you spray both sides of the leaves.
Pests like slugs and caterpillars can easily be controlled by picking them off by hand once you see one lurking around your plants.
Always keep your garden tidy. Use floating row covers can reduce the risk of pest infestation. Plant beneficial companion plants together with your arugula to help in controlling these possible pests. I’ll discuss more on that later.
What other crops could I plant together with my arugula to maximize my garden space?
In order to maximize your garden, companion planting is a must. If you’re not familiar with companion planting and you’re relatively new to gardening, here’s the idea behind it.
There are certain plants that are better when grown together. Some of the benefits they can get from each other include natural pest control, higher crop yield and shade protection for sun-sensitive plants.
For example, planting marigold next to your arugula will attract predatory insects like wasps and ladybugs to help control unwanted pests—making your plants pest-free.
Here are some plants you can grow next to your arugula:
You can grow some of these plants at the same time, making your yield extra larger. Check out some of my growing guides to see what you can plant next.
What are the crops that will not go well with arugula?
Unfortunately, not all plants can be grown together as it wouldn’t be beneficial for both parties. Either their growing conditions just don’t fit well together or some pests and diseases can travel or spread faster among them when grown near with each other.
Here are some of the plants you should not grow next to your arugula:
- Strawberries
- Peas
- Beans
Harvesting Arugula
How do I harvest arugula and when is the best time to do it?
In just 40 days or 3 to 4 weeks depending on the variety and growing conditions, your arugula will be ready for harvest.
So fast, right?
The young leaves are the best tasting. They’re tender and crisp. Pick them off using shears when they are 2 to 5 inches (5-7.5 cm) long. You can harvest the whole plant too. Just cut the whole thing just above the root.
Don’t delay harvesting, the older they become, the bitter they get.
You can also harvest as you need by only cutting individual leaves. The arugula will re-grow new leaves you can harvest in a few days.
What is the best way to store the arugula that I have harvested?
For the tastiest and nutrient-dense arugula, consume them the same day they’re picked or use them within 6 days.
Wrap the leaves of your arugula in a cloth or paper towel. Put them in a perforated plastic bag and place them in the vegetable crisper section of your refrigerator. They will keep in the refrigerator for about 10 days.
But I suggest you eat or cook them sooner, preferably in 3 to 6 days. They’re tastier the sooner you eat them.
FEATURED TABLE
| Botanical Name | Eruca sativa |
| Plant Type | Vegetable |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | |
| Soil pH | Neutral |
| Bloom Time | |
| Flower Color | |
| Hardiness Zones | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
