How to grow arugula
Ready in about a month. Cut young leaves; hot weather makes them fiery and quick to flower.
Your arugula dates
Companions
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Arugula belongs to the brassicas (Brassicaceae). Hungry for nitrogen; clubroot spores persist in soil for years.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the leaf & brassica bed. Avoid growing it where any brassicas grew in the last three years.
Sow a fresh batch every 14 days for a steady supply. The succession planting calculator lists the dates.
When to plant arugula by zone
| Zone | Sow / plant out | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 15 – May 27 | Jul 22 – Aug 12 |
| 4 | Apr 7 – May 19 | Aug 1 – Aug 22 |
| 5 | Mar 26 – May 7 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 |
| 6 | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | Aug 25 – Sep 15 |
| 7 | Mar 4 – Apr 15 | Sep 4 – Sep 25 |
| 8 | Feb 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 17 – Oct 8 |
| 9 | Jan 18 – Mar 1 | Oct 8 – Oct 29 |
| 10 | Dec 28 – Feb 8 | Oct 23 – Nov 13 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Arugula questions
When should I plant arugula?
Plant arugula outdoors 5 weeks before your last spring frost. For a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost.
How far apart should I plant arugula?
About 4 inches apart, or 9 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with arugula?
Traditional companions include beet, carrot, lettuce, spinach. Keep it away from strawberry.
How long does arugula take to grow?
Typically 30–40 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.