Arugula is also known as salad rocket, rocket, rucola and rugula. It's a small, fast and easy growing annual with a slighltly bitter, spicy and somewhat nut-like flavour. This variety is only grown outdoors or outdoors under glass. Sowing indoors for an early harvest doesn't make any sense, because Arugula is very fast growing.
Arugula is very healthy and versatile. Arugula contains a.o.: vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B11, C, E and a large quantity of vitamin K. And the minerals: calcium, carotene, phosphor, iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, sodium, selenium and zinc. Arugula also contains chlorophyll, crude fibres and little calories. You can use Arugula briefly stir fried and steamed or add it raw to salads, as garnish, in omelettes or add it last minute to soups. You can also make a delicious and healthy Pesto with Arugula. The seeds of Arugula can also be used as very healthy Sprouts. This is called Arugula Cress. Use this Arugula Cress on a cheese sandwich, smoked salmon and with ham. These very healthy Sprouts are also very delicious in combination with cream cheese. Use these Sprouts also as garnish on pastadishes, in salads or add them last minute to vegetable soups. Arugula is very delicious in combination with: cheese, eggs, garlic, mustard, lemon, salmon, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pasta, nuts, apple, pine nuts, parmesan, tuna, yogurt, potatoes, oranges, shrimps, beef and soy sauce. And with various vegetables such as: lettuce, tomato, sweet pepper, onions, courgette, cucumber, corn salad, spinach and carrots. Semi-hardy annual.
Outdoor sowing: March - September
Germination: 5 - 10 days
Germination temp.: 15 - 25 °C
Sowing depth: ½ - 1 cm
Planting distance: 15 cm
Distance between the rows: 30 cm
Planting position: sunny - half shaded
Days till harvest: 30 - 35
Arugula has no special demands on the soil type on which it's sown. Sow Arugula outdoors from March till September. Grow on a sunny plot in the spring and autumn. Sow in the summer on a sunny plot with half shade to prevent bolting. Sow outdoors under glass in early spring, when the temperatures are low.
Sow sparingly and not to deep. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Don't sow the seeds too closely together. Because when the seeds are sown too close together it can result in problems with fungi. Sow in rows about 30 cm apart. The ideal germination temperature is between 15 - 25°C. Germination takes about 5 - 10 days, depending on the outdoors temperature and the soil temperature. Thin the plants, when they're too close together, to 15 cm apart. Keep moist. Give enough water during drought because the plants bolt when they dry out. Early bolting effects the flavour of the leaves negatively.
You can harvest, approx. 4 - 5 weeks after sowing. The young leaves have the most flavour. Pick some leaves when needed or harvest the whole plant. The plants can grow on when the hart and the roots are intact. Use the harvested leaves the same day, because Arugula wilts fairly quickly after harvesting. Protect the plants against slugs and snails, caterpillars and aphids. Arugula belongs to the Cabbage family in the croprotation. But some gardeners use the croprotation of Greens. Sow every 2 - 3 weeks small amounts of seeds to extend the harvesting period.
