How to grow Arugula?
- Latin Family: Brassicaceae
- Latin Genus: Eruca
- Ease of Growing: Easy
- Growing Type: Annual
Delicate, hardy greens and with a strong flavor. They are often little changed from wild plants and so grow quickly, without needing much attention.
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Arugula History
Green leaves have always been an important part of the human diet and many of the varieties we eat today have their origins in wild plants that were foraged by European and Asian peasants. Arugula was a favorite of the Romans and was even considered an aphrodisiac. It was harvested as a wild green until cultivation started in the 1990s.
In recent years, Americans have come to a new appreciation of Arugula, and restaurants are offering it as a fancier version of lettuce. Arugula is not only tasty, but is also one of the healthiest foods you can eat.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.0
- PH Ideal (min/max): 6.5 - 7.0
The soil is called upon to produce a lot of foliage in a short time, so it should be fertile, moisture retentive and well drained.
How to care for Arugula?
Arugula needs to grow quickly for best quality. This can only be done by giving the plants everything they need.
Water
These fast-growing plants must have all of the water they need for rapid growth. It is important that the soil is kept moist at all times.
Fertilizer
These greens grow quickly and for best growth and flavor they should have all of the nutrients readily available, which means the soil needs to be fairly fertile. Their main requirement is nitrogen, but they also need moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 2 - 5 Years
Germination Percentage: 80.0
Arugula is fairly easy to save seed from, you just have to leave them in the ground long enough to flower and produce seed. If any seed falls to the ground it will often self sow.
Light
Part shade
If you want to grow them in warm weather, they will often benefit from some shade.
Conditions:Warm
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
In cool weather the plants will need full sun for most rapid growth.
Conditions:Cool
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
Arugula does not keep very well. You can keep it in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days. Don't wash until you are going to use it.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Problems
Bitterness
This is a characteristic sign of imminent [bolting], but it may also be caused by water stress or unusually warm weather. Once it happens there isn't much you can do about it.
Bolting
Arugula is a very short lived plant and usually doesn't produce for very long before it starts [bolting] and becomes too strongly flavored to eat. Long days and heat encourage bolting.
Arugula Types
- Arugula / Roquette / Rocket
Arugula has been in and out of fashion since Roman times. It is now fashionable again and is commonly found in commercially grown salad mixes. It has a strong and distinctive flavor people tend to either love or hate.
Pests
- Cabbageworms
- Flea Beetle
- Birds
- Aphids
- Nematodes
- Slugs and snails
Diseases
- Bacterial Leaf Spot
- Bacterial Blight
- Damping Off
- Downy Mildew
Related Plants
Greens, Juicing
Sprouts
Seacale
Kohlrabi
Collards
Anise
Caraway
Cumin
Cauliflower
Culantro