How to plant arugula and care for it properly

When to plant arugula

Sowing begins when the spring air warms up to 9 degrees. In most regions, this happens already in April. Arugula grows quite quickly - the greens are cut off after 3 weeks from the moment of germination. Therefore, it can be sown all summer until the end of August.

How to prepare a bed for growing arugula

Find a well-lit place, light partial shade is allowed during the midday hours. Before sowing, apply 3-4 kg of compost for each square meter of the bed, dig the soil onto a shovel bayonet and level the surface with a rake, carefully breaking up earthen clods.

How to plant arugula

Its seeds do not require soaking, which makes sowing even easier.

Make furrows

Their depth should be 1-1.5 cm. If you sow arugula in several rows, keep a distance of 15–30 cm between them. Furrows can be made with a chopper, garden shovel, or use a long bar - with its help, the rows will turn out to be even and neat.

Pour plenty of water into the recesses and wait until it is completely absorbed.

Sow Arugula

Place the seeds at the bottom of the furrow at intervals of 1–2 cm. Fill them with soil, lightly compacting the surface with the palm of your hand. If you are planting arugula in early spring, you can cover the bed with plastic sheeting or non-woven fabric to give the seeds extra warmth to germinate.

Wait for shoots

They may appear within a week. If you have used cover, be sure to remove it as soon as you see sprouts.

How to care for arugula

Feeding this salad is not worth it, because its leaves quickly accumulate nitrates.

Water the arugula

With a lack of moisture greens becomes too sharp and rough, so do not allow the surface of the soil to dry out. Water the plants 3-4 times a week, and daily in hot weather. It is better to do this in the evenings, using the sprinkling method: pour water not only on the soil, but also on the leaves. Such a shower can be done using a diffuser nozzle for a watering can or a hose.

Loosen and weed the garden

At least once a week after watering, gently beat the soil between the rows with a small chopper - this will provide oxygen to the roots of the plants. Try to remove weeds in time, otherwise they will take food from the soil and prevent the arugula from developing normally.

When and how to harvest arugula

As soon as the leaves have grown to 10 cm, start collecting. Although you can do this earlier - young greens are also good for food. Cut the arugula with sharp scissors, retreating about 0.5 cm from the base. It will start putting out new leaves soon.

By the way, in the fall, do not rush to pull out the arugula with the root. Cut the crop and leave the plants to winter in the garden - next spring you will see young greens.