General
Cultivated arugula (Eruca sativa) is a fast, cool-season leafy brassica with a peppery taste. It matures quickly (often within a few weeks) and is best harvested young for a mild, tender crop. Heat and long days can trigger bolting and a sharper flavor. Compared with wild rocket/sand rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), cultivated arugula is usually quicker and milder but less heat-tolerant.
Light
Full sun to partial shade; partial shade helps reduce bolting in summer.
Soil type
Moist, well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost; tolerates a wide range if not waterlogged.
Water requirement
Keep evenly moist; do not let soil dry out. Mulch lightly to conserve moisture.
Nutrient requirement
Moderate feeder. Focus on steady, nitrogen-leaning nutrition without excess.
Precultivation
Usually direct-sown, but for an early start sow indoors about 3–4 weeks before planting out. Sow 0.5–1 cm deep, keep evenly moist, and provide strong light after emergence. Grow cool (about 10–16°C) to reduce legginess and bolting. Harden off 5–7 days before transplanting at 3–4 true leaves.
Planting
Direct sow 0.5–1 cm deep. For baby leaf, sow densely or in rows 5–8 cm apart; for rosettes/bunching, space 8–10 cm in-row with 15–20 cm between rows. Thin early for airflow. Cover with insect net/row cover at sowing to exclude flea beetles and retain moisture. Resow every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest; use partial shade in hot periods and water before/after sowing.
Pruning
No pruning required. For longer leaf production, regularly harvest outer leaves and remove flower stalks at the first sign of bolting. Remove spent plants promptly to reduce pest carryover.
Maintenance
Water consistently to keep leaves tender; irregular moisture can increase harshness and speed bolting. Incorporate compost at bed preparation and give a light side-dressing (e.g., diluted compost tea or pelleted organic fertilizer) after the first big harvest. Use insect netting from day one against flea beetles and moths. Manage slugs where needed and keep good spacing to reduce mildew risk.
Harvest
Baby leaf: cut when 7–10 cm tall. Mature rosettes: harvest whole plants or use cut-and-come-again, leaving the crown to regrow. Harvest in the morning for best quality. Store unwashed and cool (near 0–4°C) for a few days; wash just before use.
Common issues
Bolting in heat/long days—reduce with partial shade, frequent sowings, and steady moisture. Flea beetle “shot holes”—use fine mesh netting and keep soil moist. Caterpillars from brassica moths—exclude with netting and handpick. Mildew in humid, crowded stands—thin early and improve airflow. Clubroot risk increases in acidic, poorly drained soils—improve drainage and avoid repeated brassica cropping.
Rotation schedule
Rotate as a brassica: ideally wait 3–4 years before returning to beds that held cabbage-family crops (cabbage, kale, radish, mustard, arugula). Follow with non-brassicas to reduce pest and disease carryover.
Pollination
Not applicable for harvest (leaf crop). Flowers are insect-pollinated if allowed to bolt.
Companion plants
Lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, carrots, onions, garlic, calendula, dill, cilantro.
Incompatible plants
Fennel; avoid repeated planting with/after other brassicas (cabbage, radish, mustard, kale) due to shared pests and diseases.
