How to grow arugula at home: even a beginner can do it

Arugula has a rich spicy and nutty flavor, so it's the perfect addition to salads and all kinds of dishes. This plant grows very quickly, so it can be planted in the garden even in September – the harvest will be ready in 30-50 days.

Arugula is quite unpretentious, so even beginners in gardening can handle it. However, you should pay attention to a few nuances. Experts told us how to grow arugula at home.

Where to plant arugula

The plant should be grown in an area that receives full or partial sunlight. Arugula is part of the Brassica family, which includes white cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. It is best to rotate these crops to ensure that the soil has enough nutrients and to minimize the spread of pests and diseases.

How and when to plant arugula

Sow arugula seeds in the spring and again in the fall. Summer is not an ideal season for growing – heat negatively affects the taste and growth process. Sow the seeds about ¼ of the way deep and keep a distance of 2 cm. If you are sowing rows of arugula, each row should be about 30 cm apart.

Tips for caring for arugula

Arugula is easy to grow as long as you meet its basic needs. The plant feels best in the sun, it needs about six hours a day of sunlight.

Arugula prefers well-drained, loamy soil with a pH of 6 to 7. You can fertilize the bed with compost.

Water the bed regularly to keep the plant growing well. Keep the soil moist, but never wet - the roots of the arugula are shallow and can begin to rot.

Arugula can withstand the first frosts, but they mellow its spicy flavor, adding sweetness to the leaves.

When arugula is planted in nutrient-rich soil, it usually does not need to be fertilized. However, pale leaves indicate that the plant lacks nutrients. In this case, apply a balanced fertilizer at half the concentration, following the instructions on the product packaging.

Transplanting arugula into pots

Arugula is easy to grow in a container. Fill the pot with good-quality organic soil, moisten the sowing medium, and scatter the seeds over the surface. Sift or sprinkle some soil over the seeds and press lightly. Place the container in a shady place outdoors for a few days until the seeds germinate. Then move the container to a sunny spot, keeping the soil moist but not wet while the plants grow. Since arugula is an annual, transplanting is not necessary.

Pests and problems

Powdery mildew sometimes affects arugula when there is insufficient air circulation. Arugula attracts aphids, fleas, slugs, and the cabbage worm.

Harvesting

Harvesting is very easy – cut off the outer leaves with scissors or carefully pluck them. Arugula takes 30 to 50 days to ripen, depending on the variety.

Varieties of arugula

Astro is a fast-growing variety that is ready to harvest young leaves in just three weeks. The plant is vigorous, the taste is mild.

Red Dragon has beautiful deeply cut, oak-like green leaves with a stunning purple central vein, making this arugula a striking addition to any salad. The leaves have a mild but spicy flavor.

Silvette has a delicate flavor and crispy texture. The flavor is nutty and sweet at first, but it has a slight peppery tinge. The leaves are long and narrow. The first leaves are ready for harvest in 35 days, and full-sized leaves are ripe in 50 days.

Wasabi – if you like spicy, spicy greens, you will want to grow Eruca sativa 'Wasabi'. As the name suggests, this is a very spicy variety. It goes especially well with Asian recipes.

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