Arugula

Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa · Vegetable

Quick answer: Water: Keep evenly moist. Light: Full sun in spring and fall; light shade in warm weather. Soil: Fertile, well-drained; avoid waterlogged clay. Pets: Arugula does not appear on the ASPCA list; as a common salad green it is not known as a pet poison, but large amounts may upset the stomach. If in doubt, ask your vet.

A peppery salad green that is one of the quickest crops you can grow. It loves cool weather, shrugs off light frost and can be cut several times before it runs to flower.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun in spring and fall; light shade in warm weather

Water

Keep evenly moist; dry soil makes it bolt and taste harsh

Soil

Fertile, well-drained; avoid waterlogged clay

Temperature

Cool-season; tolerates frost down to about 22 °F

Spacing

Thin to 3–6 in, or sow thickly for cut-and-come-again

Container

At least 6 in deep; window boxes work well (estimated)

Harvest

20–40 days; pick leaves at 2–4 in long

Lifespan

Annual

When?

Sow as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring and again from late summer to early fall. Repeat sowings every 2–3 weeks. Summer sowings bolt quickly; give them some shade.

Step by step

1. Sow seed thinly, about 1/4 in deep, in rows or a wide band.
2. Keep the soil moist; seedlings appear within a few days, even in cool soil.
3. Thin to 3–6 in for full plants, or leave dense for baby leaves.
4. Water regularly; stress from heat or drought speeds flowering.
5. Cover with fine row cover in spring and summer to keep flea beetles off.
6. Pick outer leaves or cut the whole bunch an inch above the soil; it regrows.
7. Sow again every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.

Common problems

Pets

Arugula does not appear on the ASPCA list; as a common salad green it is not known as a pet poison, but large amounts may upset the stomach. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Related tools

Similar plants