Introduction
- Arugula is a fast-growing leafy green in the mustard family with a signature peppery bite. In our mild winters and warm summers, it thrives best in the cool seasons. It’s an easy, high-reward crop that you can grow in the ground, raised beds, or containers—and enjoy multiple harvests from a single planting.
Quick Facts
- Type: Tender annual (often self-seeds here)
- Height: 12–24 inches
- Harvest Season: Cool season, best in fall, winter, and early spring
- Sun Requirements: Full sun in winter; partial shade in late spring to prevent bolting.
- Soil Type: Loose, well-draining soil enriched with compost
- Water Needs: Keep soil evenly moist, especially in warm, dry spells; mulch helps retain moisture
Planting Guide
When to Plant
- Direct sow or transplant in September or October for a fall crop, and again in February - March for a spring crop.
Where to Plant
- Choose a sunny spot for fall/winter crops.
- For spring crops, partial shade in the afternoon helps delay bolting.
- Works well in deep containers if you want to try moving pots to cooler spots as temperatures rise.
How to Plant
- Sow seeds ¼ inch deep, spacing 1 inch apart in rows or scatter for a baby-leaf harvest.
- Space mature plants 3–6 inches apart to allow airflow and reduce pest pressure.
- Work compost into the top 6–8 inches of soil before planting.
- Lightly water after sowing and keep soil evenly moist until germination (5–10 days).
Care & Maintenance
Watering
- Water regularly; shallow roots dry out quickly in warm weather.
Fertilizing
- Side-dress with compost or use a balanced organic fertilizer midway through the growing season.
Bolting
- Use shade cloth in late spring to extend harvest time. Or move to a shadier spot if you're growing in containers.
Pests & Problems
- Generally not too many pests. Watch out for aphids.
Lifecycle & Reseeding
- While arugula is grown as an annual, in our mild-winter climate it often self-seeds if you let it flower and set seed.
- Volunteer seedlings often appear in fall after the first rains. Thin or transplant these for a free crop.
Wildlife & Companion Benefits
- White, four-petaled flowers attract bees and beneficial insects.
- Good companion for carrots, beets, and lettuce—provides light shade and helps break up the soil with its root system.
- Chickens enjoy the leaves as forage in winter.
Extra Tips
- Sow small batches every 2–3 weeks in fall and spring for a continuous supply.
- For the mildest greens, pick leaves when 2"–4" long.
- Harvest individual leaves or cut the entire plant at ground level.
Where to Get Seeds
