Arugula
Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
vegetableArugula is a fast, peppery salad green with deeply lobed leaves and a distinctive nutty, mustardy bite that sharpens as the plant ages. A cool-season crop in the cabbage family, it is among the quickest greens to grow, with baby leaves ready in about three weeks and full leaves in 35 to 45 days, and it bolts rapidly once the weather turns hot.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 2 days
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Harvest
~35 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
4-6 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, moist
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Lightly once early
Fertilizer
Nitrogen-rich (fish emulsion)
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow in the cool weather of spring and again in late summer for fall, scattering seed thinly in fertile, moist soil in full sun to part shade. Keep the soil evenly moist for fast, tender growth, and sow small batches every couple of weeks for a steady supply, since heat and long days quickly trigger bolting and make the leaves harshly pungent. Light afternoon shade extends the spring crop.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌿
Direct sow
Apr 1
🌾
Projected first harvest
May 6
fall planting
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Direct sow
Sep 1
🌾
Projected first harvest
Oct 6
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Bush Beans: Fix nitrogen and shade the soil
- Sweet Alyssum: Attracts hoverflies that eat aphids
- Lettuce: Shares cool-season beds and spacing
- Nasturtium: Acts as a flea beetle trap crop
❌ Keep away from
Strawberry
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover seedlings with row cover; flea beetles shot-hole the leaves
Draw hoverflies and lacewings with nearby flowers; rinse off colonies
Water in the morning, set traps, and hand-pick after dark
🌾 Harvest & storage
Begin picking outer leaves once they reach a few inches, or cut the whole rosette an inch above the crown for cut-and-come-again regrowth, harvesting in the cool of the morning. Pick young for mild flavor and before the plant bolts, after which the leaves turn bitter and tough; the flowers are also edible and peppery.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Arugula is very low in calories and a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, with folate, calcium, and the glucosinolate compounds typical of cruciferous greens that are studied for their health benefits.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.