Standard Arugula Guide

Pick this peppery European green to punch up your pesto. Pair with pears, goat cheese and pomegranate seeds for the perfect salad. Dress with your favorite vinaigrette before serving and enjoy.

TO SOW

Standard Arugula grows best in cooler weather between 40°F-70°F. They do great in containers and small gardens. Bank on Seeds recommends direct seeding.

 If Direct Seeding

• Direct seed outside 2-3 weeks before last frost date; or

• Direct seed into a container 6-8 inches deep and wide anytime of the year. It can be placed outside when the temperature is between 45°F-70°F; or

If Transplanting

Begin the growing season early and start the arugula seeds indoors in trays or pods 6-8 weeks before the last frost date; clingwrap the container to seal in the warmth. Germination is best and fastest between 70°F-80°F. It can be transplanted outside 6 weeks later.

Sow the seeds ¼ inch deep, 3-4 inches apart with rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Germination will take 5-7 days. Thin them to 6 inches apart when the leaves start to overlap.

TO GROW

Arugula likes in well-draining, fertile soil with lots of aged compost. Arugula likes full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Keep the soil evenly moist to slow bolting.

Arugula matures fast so the compost application in the beginning is more than enough. If the leaves are light green and undernourished, you can add organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion or 5-10-10 fertilizer at half strength.

Sow more seeds every 3 weeks for continual harvest.

TO REAP

Standard arugula is full grown in 21-40 days. Start picking fresh leaves as needed starting week 3 or wait another 1-2 weeks to harvest 1/3 of the plant. Snip the leaves and they will come back again. After arugula flowers or if the weather is too hot, the leaves are still edible but taste bitter.

PESTS/DISEASES

Flea beetles – cover with floating row covers as soon as they are sown; yellow sticky traps in soil; neem oil

*Plant arugula with basil, celery, mint, dill, and nasturtiums. Avoid planting strawberries, tomatoes, or peppers near arugula. *