Never Buy Arugula Again! Learn How to Grow It Easily from Seed

If you like a little zest in your salad greens, arugula is the leaf to grow! This easy-to-grow member of the mustard family is simple to plant from seed and will keep your salads, soups, and more from being boring. Follow these tips for growing arugula in your home garden and enjoy a healthy harvest in as little as six weeks.

When planting arugula in your home garden, it’s important to know that there are different types of arugula.

Although both are commonly called arugula, there are two distinct types: common arugula (Eruca sativa) and wild arugula, also known as rocket arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia).

Common Arugula (Eruca sativa) is a fast-growing annual with broad, tender leaves and a classic peppery flavor. It’s easy to grow from seed and is a staple in salads and fresh dishes. However, once it bolts and produces flowers, the leaves become more bitter. Many gardeners choose to remove it at this stage and plant heat-loving crops like tomatoes or peppers.

Wild Arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) – Often called "rocket," this variety has deeply lobed, frilly leaves and a stronger, more complex flavor. It is more heat-tolerant than common arugula, making it a great choice for warmer climates or extended harvesting.

Both types produce edible flowers, but the leaves become significantly spicier and more bitter once the plant starts flowering.

Arugula is on our list of easiest vegetables to grow from seed. This is an excellent crop to grow in raised vegetable beds or inground gardens.

The most important tip for growing arugula is that temperature matters to this fast-growing plant. Once you get the timing right to grow arugula in the optimal temperatures, you’ll have no problem having a delicious harvest of healthy greens.

Arugula is frost tolerant but not heat tolerant. The best time to plant arugula seeds is either in early spring or fall. For fall planting, you can sow seeds in late fall so that the plants have time to grow but not bolt and go to seed. Usually, around the first frost is the right time to plant arugula for a fall harvest and overwintering. In milder climates, planting in the fall means you will have new growth in March.

For spring planting, sow arugula seeds a couple of weeks before your expected last frost date.

We’ve found the flavor of arugula to be more mild when it grows in cool weather. The optimal temperature range for growing arugula is 50 to 70ºF.

• Plant arugula seeds 1/8” deep.
• Soil temperature can be as low as 40ºF.
• Keep seeds moist until they germinate in 5 to 10 days.

It’s best and easiest to direct sow arugula, but seeds can also be started indoors. Once arugula seedlings have a few true leaves, they can be hardened off for transplanting outdoors. Transplant when the plants are still young. Space plants about 6 inches apart and water well. It can also be less shocking to the plants if you transplant in the evening. This gives the plants time to recover in cooler temperatures.

Arugula seeds can be direct sown in soil 40 to 50ºF. Keep seeds moist, and they will germinate in 5 to 10 days.

You may want to consider succession sowing arugula. By spacing out your seed planting, you can have plants at different stages throughout the growing season. You can also have a main spring crop and then sow another crop of arugula in the fall.

Arugula plants are low maintenance, and it's easy to keep them thriving in cool temperatures. You can have delicious leaves ready to eat in as little as 6 weeks.

Arugula can grow in full sun to partial shade. Growing it in partial shade can help extend the growing season in hot weather, as it will bolt when temperatures soar. It can also grow in part sun, with as little as four hours of light.

Arugula can grow in all kinds of soil, but nutrient-rich soil that drains well is best. Soil that doesn’t stay waterlogged can help prevent root rot. Also, fertile soil means the plants will grow well without stress.

Water arugula plants consistently to keep their shallow root systems moist. As temperatures rise, keeping the plants well watered is important to help prevent bolting.

Arugula is fast growing and usually doesn’t usually need extra fertilizer. If you do add fertilizer, one that is higher in nitrogen is best to encourage more leaf growth.

In addition to planting at the right time, harvesting arugula at the right time will give you the best flavor.

You can harvest arugula one leaf at a time or in bunches. Leaves that are 3 to 4 inches will be tender and less spicy than more mature leaves. Cut leaves off about 2 inches above the ground.

New growth is in the middle of arugula plants, so cut the outer leaves first. This will allow the plant to continue growing new leaves. If you cut the whole plant, it will be done.

Arugula is a delicious leafy green known for its sharp and spicy taste. You can add it to soups, salads, pastas, pestos, or as a garnish.

Arugula can be a target for pests that thrive on brassicas, such as cabbage loopers and flea beetles. Row covers can help keep bugs off, and since arugula doesn’t need pollinators, this is an excellent option for natural pest control. 

Slugs and snails can find young arugula plants tasty. Use the most effective methods to keep slugs off your arugula plants.

It can take six to eight weeks to start harvesting arugula grown from seed.

Arugula grows best in full sun but can grow with as little as four hours of daily sunlight.

Arugula seeds are very small and germinate easily. There is no need to presoak them before planting.

You can grow other leafy greens with arugula. You can also plant it with crops that will take over in the warm summer heat when arugula is done growing new leaves and goes to seed.

Arugula can easily be grown in containers. Its shallow root system means it doesn’t need a deep container, but it does need to stay well watered.

Arugula is one of those leafy greens that is easy to grow and so much better homegrown. You’ll avoid pesticides and high prices by growing this healthy, leafy green vegetable in your home garden. Now that you know the best growing conditions, you can easily start growing arugula from seed.

Try our heirloom arugula varieties for guaranteed to-grow seeds.