How To Grow Arugula In The Fall For A Full Harvest Before Winter Hits

Ahhh, growing fall crops! Fall is a great time to start gardening, as temperatures are cooler, and fewer pests and plant diseases are around to cause problems. It's also a great way to ensure nutritious veggies are available well past summer. Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) is an excellent selection as one of your fall plantings because it grows quickly, tolerates frost, and brings its peppery kick to your dinner table.

You shouldn't buy arugula as a seedling but rather plant it from seed in early fall in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. If needed, clear out summer plant debris to make space for fall arugula. Arugula does well in full sun, but it tolerates shade. In fact, some shade can prevent it from bolting to seed too quickly. Plant seeds a quarter of an inch deep and about 1 inch apart and water regularly. Even in cool soil,seeds will germinate in about a week. With a little attention and some time, you'll be eating fresh, arugula salads through autumn and into winter.

Arugula leaves are ready to harvest about six to seven weeks after germination. The best time to harvest your arugula is when leaves have reached about 2 inches in length. The younger the leaves, the less bitter or peppery they will be, so you can harvest according to your taste, as well. You can keep planting every two to three weeks for continuous arugula throughout the fall season.

Your needs will determine the best method for harvesting arugula. Some gardeners cut the whole plant at 1-2 inches from the ground. Others prefer to harvest the outside leaves but leave the crown of the plant intact to encourage growth of new leaves. If you are not doing repeated plantings of arugula, you may prefer the latter method. It's important to keep harvesting so your arugula doesn't go to seed. In cold climates, you can extend the arugula season even further, using row covers or cold frames.