Planting Arugula: A Seed-to-Harvest Guide

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If you often purchase arugula in those plastic containers at the supermarket, have you considered planting arugula yourself? This peppery green is easy to grow in gardens and containers. And, if you choose the right variety, it’s perennial. For a spicy summer salad option, read this guide to planting arugula.

If you’ve ever read a British or Australian recipe and wondered what rocket or roquette is, well, it’s arugula. I explain more about the etymology of the word in my article about arugula flowers. You can also consider that piece a helpful continuation of this article.

I use arugula on its own or mixed with other greens in a salad. This member of the mustard family becomes a base to serve under heavier salads, like chickpea or potato. I like the taste of arugula on top of pizza. And I’ll stuff a few leaves into a sandwich to give it a little kick.

Arugula is yummy in stir fries, too. Add a little olive oil, salt and arugula leaves to a food processor to make a quick pesto. As I do with all my extra pesto made from basil or garlic scapes, I’ll make pesto cubes in ice cube trays to freeze for later.

There are several different types of arugula and they all have varying leaf shapes. In North America, the two common types tend to be Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Eruca sativa.

Wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), known as Rucola or baby leaf rocket, tends to have more serrated leaves as they mature. They resemble dandelions a little. This is the perennial I have in my garden. And it will continue to reappear each spring. The harvest can be extended into winter if you have