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Growing Guide: Arugula
Grow and Save Arugula Seeds
How to Grow Arugula
Arugula grows well in the spring and fall but tends to bolt in hot weather. Its prolific flowers attract many pollinators before plants go to seed. Gardeners enjoy this cool-weather crop for its nutty and peppery bite.
Time of Planting
Arugula is traditionally direct-sown in the spring after the danger of hard frost has passed or in cooler fall months once soil temperatures start to decline.
Spacing Requirements
Sow shallowly, ¼ inch, in rows and thin to 10 inches between plants.
Time to Germination
7-10 days. Arugula will also self-seed in many regions.
Special Considerations
Arugula bolts in hot weather. Plant arugula early in the spring or later in the summer for a fall harvest. Successive plantings extend the harvest season. When growing for seed, arugula should be sown so that plants have enough time to produce a healthy canopy of leaves before high temperatures trigger flowering.
Common Pests and Diseases
Flea beetles are a common pest. To prevent predation, protect plants with row cover.
When and How to Harvest for Food Consumption
You can begin harvesting arugula greens as soon as seedlings emerge in your garden. Many people eat arugula sprouts when thinning plants. Arugula leaves can be selectively picked from the plants periodically throughout the season or entire plants can be harvested.
Eating
Arugula is commonly eaten as a fresh salad green or as a peppery addition to sandwiches, pizza, and pasta dishes.
Storing
Arugula greens can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. If you want to preserve these spicy greens, try your hand at making arugula pesto or salsa verde.
How to Save Arugula Seeds
Life Cycle
Annual
Recommended Isolation Distance
Separate varieties by 800 feet to ½ mile.
Recommended Population Sizes
To ensure viable seeds, save seeds from at least 5 arugula plants. When maintaining a variety over many generations, save seeds from 20-50 plants. If you’re saving seeds for genetic preservation of a rare variety, save seeds from 80 plants.
Assessing Seed Maturity
The seed heads of arugula will turn light brown and become brittle at maturity.
Harvesting
When most seed heads have matured, seed stalks can be cut and piled onto row cover or landscape fabric in a location protected from rain to finish maturing and drying. The harvested stalks should be dried until the seeds become too hard to dent with a fingernail.
Cleaning and Processing
Arugula seeds can be threshed by placing branches on a tarp or in a large container and treading on them, or by rubbing seed stalks together between one’s hands. If the pods are dry, they will release their seeds easily. Seeds can be further cleaned by screening and winnowing.
Storage and Viability
When stored in cool, dark, dry conditions, arugula seeds can be expected to remain viable for six years.
Read more about storing seeds.