Garden Rocket Eruca vesicaria

Resembling tall lettuce, arugula is an annual cool-season vegetable grown for its peppery-tasting leaves.  Popular in Italy, it is often eaten fresh in salads or used in a variety of cooked dishes.  Many other parts of the plant can also be eaten such as the flowers, young seeds pods, and seeds.

Eruca vesicaria grows best in full sun to part shade and moist, rich soil.  It is recommended to grow arugula in the cooler spring and fall; it tends to bolt and flower in hot weather, changing the flavor and stopping leaf growth.  Because of this, some shade can be beneficial in hot climates to deter bolting.  It also tolerates wet, mucky soil to some degree as well as light frosts. 

Seeds may be planted directly into the soil or started indoors before the last frost date for later transplanting.  Thin seedlings out to 6 in apart.  If growing in containers, use a minimum pot size of 3 gallons and a minimum depth of 4-6 in.  Plants can self-seed in the garden, though they run the risk of becoming a weed or escaping into natural areas.

Plants mature quickly, within 40-50 days, and can be harvested after 6 weeks.  Pick young leaves as older leaves have a bitter flavor.  Stagger plantings by one or two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the season.  Once plants bolt in the summer, the flowers and seed pods can be harvested as well.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  Few serious problems, though minor diseases may occur such as bacterial leaf spot and powdery mildew.  Aphids and flea beetles may cause problems.  Damping off of seedlings is infrequent but possible.

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Bill Lord, former Area Specialized Agent for NC State Extension