Common Arugula with a small salad and fork on a white background.
Fresh Common Arugula with arugula pesto surrounded with pine nuts on a wood cutting board.
Common Arugula with rice sushi on a plate with leaves.
A couple of Common Arugula leaves on a light background.
Common Arugula and apple salad in a bowl with a fork and surrounded by leaves.
Common Arugula growing in a greenhouse at the Baker Creek farm in Missouri.
Common Arugula with a small salad and fork on a white background.
Fresh Common Arugula with arugula pesto surrounded with pine nuts on a wood cutting board.
Common Arugula with rice sushi on a plate with leaves.
A couple of Common Arugula leaves on a light background.
Common Arugula and apple salad in a bowl with a fork and surrounded by leaves.
Common Arugula growing in a greenhouse at the Baker Creek farm in Missouri.

Arugula Seeds,
Common

4.729 Reviews#OG106 · 200 seeds
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Description

(Eruca sativa). A lively green with a bold peppery bite and mustard-like edge, bringing crisp texture and bright flavor to the table. Quick to germinate and ready in about four weeks, it thrives in cool weather and tolerates light frost. Sow densely in early spring and harvest often for tender leaves, then continue succession plantings every few weeks for steady supply. Drought tolerant and less troubled by pests than lettuce, it’s a dependable staple that keeps gardens productive and kitchens well supplied.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Eruca sativa
Life Cycle
Annual
Sun Requirement
4–8 hr.
Days to Germinate
5–7
Days to Maturity
50
Planting Depth
⅛ in.
Plant Spacing
Thin to 6 in.
Ideal Temperature
40–70°F
Frost Hardy
Yes

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Arugula can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, and again in late summer for a fall harvest. The plant grows quickly, ready to harvest in about 50 days or even sooner. In regions with mild winters, you might even continue growing arugula throughout the winter with some protection, such as a cold frame. For a continuous supply, consider succession planting by sowing seeds every two to three weeks during the growing season. This method ensures a steady supply of fresh leaves throughout its growing period. If you’re not sure how to find your first and last frost dates, consult our blog post 'Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.'

How to Sow and Plant

  • Direct seed as soon as soil can be worked in spring and succession sow every 2-3 weeks until about last expect frost date.
  • Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and in close bands 1-2 inches apart, if growing for baby greens.
  • For mature, full-sized harvest, thin seedlings to 6 inches apart (and don't forget to eat the thinnings!).
  • Ideal germination temperature is 40-55 F.
  • Seeds will germinate in 5-7 days.

How to Grow

  • Prefers full sun to part shade.
  • Adapted to a range of soils, including poor soil. Harvest baby greens in as few as 25 days and mature plants in 40.
  • Cut leaves above the plant's base for multiple harvests. Don't forget to eat the spicy, pungent flowers -- they are a delicacy!

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Flea beetles are a common pest for arugula. If you expect this to be a problem, cover the freshly planted arugula patch with a floating row cover to exclude the flea beetles. Flea beetles can also be controlled with neem oil or diatomaceous earth.

How to Save Seeds

To save Common arugula seeds, allow some of your plants to bolt and produce flowers, which will develop into seed pods. Once these pods have dried on the plant, you can harvest them by cutting the stalks and letting them dry further in a paper bag. Afterward, shake the pods to release the seeds and store them in a cool, dry place until the next planting season. Arugula seeds are easy to save and can be a cost-effective way to grow arugula year after year.

FAQ

How soon can I cut arugula, and will it grow back?

Baby greens can be harvested in as few as 25 days, and this variety is listed at 50 days to maturity. Cut the leaves above the plant's base and you will get multiple harvests; this is an excellent cut-and-come-again green.

Can I keep sowing it through the season?

Direct seed as soon as the soil can be worked in spring and succession sow every 2 to 3 weeks until the heat of summer arrives; seeds sprout in 5 to 7 days at an ideal germination temperature of 40 to 55 F. Sow again in late summer for a fall harvest. In warmer climates some afternoon shade helps keep plants from bolting, and when they do flower, eat the spicy, pungent blooms, which are a delicacy.

What do I do about flea beetles?

Flea beetles are a common pest for arugula. If you expect this to be a problem, cover the freshly planted patch with a floating row cover to exclude them; they can also be controlled with neem oil or diatomaceous earth.

Customer reviews

4.7 / 5 29 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Up in days: Near-total germination; sprouts in two to five days.

  • Peppery bite: Fresh and spicy with a nutty edge; great in salads and sandwiches.

  • Cut and come again: Keeps sending new leaves after every picking.

  • Thrives on neglect: Handles drought, frost and heat, and self-sows freely.

  • Heads up: Bolts fast once weather warms; sow early and in succession.

More to grow!

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