How To Grow Arugula from Seed

Arugula on the Verge of Bolting

Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) is a vitamin-rich, leafy green that produces large yields in the correct growing environment. It is excellent for salads & for cooking. It is full of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, & anti-cancer nutrients. You can eat it raw, saute it, steam it, add it to soups & salads, use it in place of lettuce in sandwiches for a little kick, add it to potatoes & casseroles. Bitter greens past their prime can be enjoyed gently steamed alone or with other greens such as mustard or turnip greens, or used as a creamed side &/or in creamed soups.

Arugula is a cool weather crop. It is great for spring & fall harvests. Arugula can overwinter in many parts of the country under cold frames or heavyweight row covers. It can withstand some heat but is prone to bolting. I don't recommend growing it in the summer. With that said, If your growing environment tends to be warm, plant your arugula in the shade of taller crops to protect it from the suns heat. It is likely to bolt quickly in a warm environment, so enjoy it while you can!


Sow outside (spring): Sow seeds in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked, with successive sowings 3-4 weeks apart.
Sow outside (fall):  In the late summer for a fall crop.
Start indoors (spring): 4-5 weeks before last frost
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Days to emerge: 7-10
Soil depth (when using pots): 4"
Seed depth:  1/4"
Seed spacing:  1"
Row spacing:  18"-24"
Thinning:  4-6"
Days to maturity: 20-50
USDA Zone: 3-11

Seed Savers:
Allow the plants to bolt (flower & set seed pods). Long green seed pods will form. As the plant matures, the pods will turn brown. If you don't want to save the seeds, you can let nature do her thing. The seeds will eventually self sow. Your main work will be removing weeds. To save the seed for future use, I cut the long stalks that contain the pods, then massage the pods over a large container. When done, shake the seeds a little to get a good amount of the chaff to rise to the surface. Allow a gentle breeze or blow gently on the chaff to remove it. When I do this, I do loose some seeds, so please keep this in mind. Slow & gentle is the key. You don't want to blow away all your hard work!

Arugula Seed Pods

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