Kitchen Herbs
Italian Arugula
The luscious tangy leaves of Italian arugula, also called rocket salad in England and roquette in France, are easy to grow, carefree and absolutely delicious in salads or sautés. The nutty zip they give to mixtures of lettuce and other greens becomes a taste you’ll crave and wouldn’t do without. Peppery arugula complements the traditional summer tastes of basil and sun-warmed tomatoes, and goes equally well with cool season salads of heartier greens, nuts and pears or apples.
ANNUAL
Spring/summer/fall harvest
Frost hardy
THIN OR TRANSPLANT
Arugula grows so quickly we recommend sowing in place rather than transplanting. Thin seedlings 2 to 3 inches apart when plants are large enough to handle.
GROWING NOTES
Begin harvesting by thinning little seedlings to use in salads when they are several inches tall. Then, either pick individual leaves when 3-4 inches long, or snip leaves about 1 inch above the crown and let plants regrow for more harvests.