How to grow Arugula

Arugula, also known as rocket and roquette, is a highly nutritious green that's easy to grow. It's a cool season vegetable that thrives in spring and fall. Arugula grows best in well-drained soil with good moisture retention and a pH between 6.0-7.5. This article will help you select the right variety for your climate and provide tips on growing arugula in containers or directly in the ground

Know your climate

Arugula is a cool-season crop, which means it can tolerate cold temperatures and is best planted in spring, summer and fall. Arugula does not like heat and grows best when temperatures don't go above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).

It needs at least six hours of sun per day to grow well.

Pick a suitable variety

Once you know where to grow arugula, the next step is choosing a variety. The first step in doing so is determining which varieties are best suited to your climate and soil conditions.

If you're considering growing arugula as a commercial crop, it's important that the variety be able to withstand harvesting throughout the season without becoming too bitter or tough. You'll also want to consider how long you want to harvest; shorter varieties will yield more quickly than longer ones, but they also have a shorter shelf life once picked.

Space plants properly

Plant spacing is the most important factor in arugula production. Arugula plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart, depending on the size of the variety and your growing conditions. If you plant too closely together, diseases may develop and growth will be weak; if you space them too far apart, there won't be enough light for each plant to reach its full potential.

If you're unsure how many plants you'll need, consider how much food preparation time you want to spend each week—and what kind of yield is realistic for your climate zone. An average harvest from one planting is about 1 pound (454 grams) per week over a four-month period of growth; if that sounds like plenty for you now, but more than enough later in life—or vice versa—then plan accordingly!

Ensure correct soil drainage

Arugula is a fairly hardy plant, but it requires well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay soil or if you live in an area that gets regular flooding, consider growing arugula in raised beds or on a sloping garden bed.

If your soil drains too poorly, consider adding organic matter to improve drainage and increase fertility - compost is one of the best options because it's full of beneficial microorganisms which will help break down the nutrients in your garden soil into a form that plants can use better than plain old dirt! Just add compost as needed until your arugula is happily growing away at its full potential!

Temperature control

The ideal temperature for growing arugula is a steady 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil needs to be moist, but not too wet—if it’s too wet, the seeds will rot. Arrange your plants so that they receive full sun; this will help them grow quickly and produce healthy leaves. Finally, keep your arugula away from cold winds and make sure that it gets enough water (but not too much).

Water appropriately

Arugula needs plenty of water to grow, but it doesn't like to be overwatered. Water the plant when the soil is dry about 1 inch down from its surface. Use a watering can or hose with a sprinkler attachment so that you don't risk damaging your plants with over-watering.

4 inches deep means that you'll need to water at least once every week (or more often if rain doesn't fall). To water evenly, place your hand in the soil near where you're going to water and bend down while touching the ground until your back is parallel with it—this will help spread out where moisture goes in the garden bed.

Harvest at the correct time

It's important to harvest arugula at the correct time. It's easy enough to cut a few leaves, but if you don't get it right, you could be throwing away a lot of potential money.

To make sure your arugula doesn't go bad before you can use it, follow these tips:

Conclusion

Arugula is a tasty, nutritious and versatile plant. It can be grown in most climates, and the leaves are often used for salads or sandwiches. The flavor of arugula is best when it's harvested at an early stage so you'll want to make sure that your plants have enough space and light in order to reach maturity quickly. Also keep track of watering needs by monitoring soil moisture levels so there isn't too much or too little water available when needed most!