How grow arugula: a concise orientation before we get practical.
How grow arugula: Quick notes
Learning how to grow arugula is simple. It doesn’t require much room and grows well in garden beds or containers. Arugula is a fast-growing, cool-season green known for its peppery flavor. I love piling arugula on top of homemade pizza or mixing it into a fresh greens salad.
Keep reading for planting dates for growing arugula in the low desert of Arizona. There is also a bonus tip at the end for growing arugula in containers.
Key Takeaways
- Plant arugula in cool temperatures for the best flavor, ideally in spring and fall, and follow local planting dates.
- Use seeds for planting, keeping them 1/4 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart; thin seedlings for optimal growth.
- Explore different arugula varieties like Astro or Wasabi for diverse flavors and heat tolerance.
- Keep the soil consistently moist to prevent bitterness and bolting; water in the morning to avoid leaf wetness.
- Container growing is effective because arugula has shallow roots; use self-watering containers and ensure good soil quality.
5 Tips for How to Grow Arugula
1. Plant arugula at the right time
Arugula prefers cooler temperatures. Prolonged warm temperatures cause arugula to bolt and become bitter. It tolerates light frost but does not like heat.
In most climates:
- Spring: Sow seeds as soon as the soil can be worked (often 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost).
- Fall: Plant again as temperatures cool (about 6 to 8 weeks before the first expected frost).
Arugula grows best in cool weather. A good soil temperature range for planting is about 45°F to 65°F.
In the low desert of Arizona:
Start seeds indoors: August–December
Plant seeds outside: September 15–January
Plant transplants outside: October–January
Succession plant arugula every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season for a continual harvest of leaves. Learn more about succession planting in this guide. If you want a bigger picture of what to plant each month here in the low desert, my Arizona vegetable planting guide makes it easy to match crops to the season.
2. Plant arugula correctly
Arugula grows quickly and usually does best when planted from seed. Arugula grown from transplants often bolts more quickly than arugula grown from seed.
- Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. For square foot gardening, plant 4 arugula plants per square foot.
- Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout.
Thin seedlings when they are several inches tall:
- Thin to 2 to 3 inches apart for baby greens
- Thin to 6 inches apart for larger plants
Arugula thinnings are tender and delicious. Arugula can be grown in full sun during cool weather. It also tolerates partial shade (4 to 6 hours of sun).
Beets, carrots, and onions are good companion plants for arugula.
3. Try different varieties of arugula
Trying a couple of varieties is a simple way to find your favorite flavor and improve performance in warmer weather.
4. Don’t allow arugula to dry out
Arugula has a shallow root system and requires frequent watering. Dry conditions can cause arugula to become bitter and can trigger bolting.
What is bolting?
Bolting is when a plant produces a flowering stem early, often due to heat, drought, or other stress. Once arugula bolts, the leaves usually become more bitter. Bolting is common in cool-season crops when stress and heat accumulate. If you’ve dealt with bolting in other crops, you may also like my post on what to do when onions bolt or why carrots bolt, since the same patterns show up across the garden.
5. Harvest arugula often
Young arugula leaves have a mild, peppery flavor that gets stronger as the leaves grow larger.
Pick off the outer leaves of arugula. Picking leaves regularly encourages growth. Learn more about cut-and-come-again harvesting in this guide.
Arugula leaves are ready to harvest 35 to 50 days after planting from seed. Begin harvesting once the leaves are 4 to 6 inches long.
The flowers of bolting arugula are edible and add a distinctive peppery flavor to dishes. Flowers develop into seed pods. Cut back flowers before seeds form if you do not want arugula to reseed in your garden.
Bonus Tip: How to grow arugula in containers
Because arugula has a shallow root system, it is a great choice for containers.
- A self-watering container gives arugula consistent access to moisture
- Do not allow container-grown arugula to dry out
- Use good-quality potting soil
- In warm weather, choose a spot with afternoon shade
- Growing in containers can also reduce some pest problems
- Feed container grown arugula about once a month. I like to use Agrothrive.
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FAQ
How long does arugula take to grow?
Most arugula is ready to harvest in about 35 to 50 days from seed, often sooner for baby greens.
Will arugula grow back after harvesting?
Yes. Harvest outer leaves and allow the center to keep producing new growth.
Why is my arugula bitter?
Bitterness is usually from heat stress, water stress, or leaves that are older and larger.
How do I keep arugula from bolting?
Plant during cool weather, keep soil evenly moist, and use afternoon shade or shade cloth as temperatures rise.
Can I eat arugula flowers?
Yes. They are edible and peppery.
How big of a container does arugula need?
Because roots are shallow, arugula can grow in smaller containers, but wider pots help you plant more and keep moisture stable.
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