Arugula, also known as rocket or roquette is a leafy green vegetable that packs a punch of flavor. Its peppery nutty taste makes arugula a popular addition to salads, pesto, sandwiches, and more. However, behind its bold flavor is a plant that needs specific growing conditions – especially when it comes to light. Providing the right amount of sunlight is crucial for growing happy, healthy arugula plants. So how much light does arugula need exactly? Let’s shine some light on arugula’s illumination needs.
Sun-Loving Greens: Arugula’s Light Requirements
Arugula thrives best in full sun. This means it needs at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. Arugula is a sun-worshipping plant that eagerly soaks up the sun’s rays to fuel growth and maximize flavor.
In its natural Mediterranean climate, arugula grows as a cool weather crop, flourishing in sunny spots through fall, winter, and spring. During hot summer months, arugula prefers a little afternoon shade to protect it from scorching afternoon sun. Even in cooler regions, a little dappled shade is beneficial during the most intense midday hours.
Leafy Greens Under Lamps: Growing Arugula Indoors
Modern technology allows us to cultivate arugula indoors and take advantage of its spicy goodness year-round. Specialized grow lamps provide artificial sunlight tailored to arugula’s needs.
LED grow lights that provide a daylight spectrum of 6500K are ideal. Position lamps 6-12 inches above plants, and set lights on a timer for 10-16 hours of daily exposure. South-facing windows can also provide ample sunlight for indoor arugula.
Monitor indoor plants for signs of insufficient light, like leggy growth and sparse leaves. Boost light duration and intensity gradually if plants show signs of light starvation.
Lighting Up Your Arugula: Key Tips
Follow these key tips to provide optimal light for your arugula plants:
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Full Sun – Place arugula in a spot receiving at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. More sun is even better.
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Summer Shade – Add shade cloth or filters during intense afternoon sun to prevent bolting.
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Rotate – Rotate indoor arugula under grow lights to ensure even exposure.
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South Windows – South-facing windows offer the most light for indoor growing.
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10-16 Hours – Provide 10-16 hours of light per day for optimal growth.
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Monitor – Check for signs of too much or too little light and adjust accordingly.
Let There Be Light: Benefits of Proper Illumination
With the right amount of sun or artificial light, arugula will thank you with vigorous growth, abundant harvests, and maximum flavor. Proper illumination provides the following benefits:
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Photosynthesis – Light powers photosynthesis and carbohydrate production for growth.
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Compact Plants – Adequate light prevents leggy, floppy growth.
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Fast Growth – The more sun, the faster arugula matures and bolts. Control bolting with proper planting times.
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Winter Growth – Supplemental lighting allows indoor growing through winter.
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Flavor – More light builds pungent, peppery compounds that equal more flavor.
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Pest Resistance – Healthy, vigorous plants better withstand pests and disease.
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Year-Round Harvests – Indoor lighting delivers fresh arugula all year.
Troubleshooting Light Issues: Signs of Too Much or Too Little Light
Since arugula craves sunlight, it will show distinct symptoms if it’s getting too much or too little light. Here’s what to look for:
Too Little Light
- Leggy, elongated growth
- Sparse, diminished leaves
- Pale color
- Slow maturation
- Low flavor compounds
Too Much Light
- Browning, scorched leaf tips
- Wilting, drooping leaves
- Premature bolting
- Bitter flavor
Adjust light intensity and duration gradually if plants show signs of too much or too little light. It’s easier to add more light than to reverse light damage, so start conservatively.
Growing Arugula in the Shade: Low-Light Considerations
While arugula thrives in sun-drenched fields, home gardeners don’t always have the perfect full-sun spot. Luckily, arugula can tolerate partial shade. But too much shade limits growth and reduces flavor.
When growing in shade, make sure arugula gets at least 4 hours of direct sun daily, along with ample indirect light. Morning sun is preferable to hot afternoon sun in shade gardens. Dappled sun filtered by tree branches is better than dense shade.
Supplement natural light with grow lamps to boost light levels, especially in winter when the sun is low on the horizon. With a little patience and light management, you can still enjoy homegrown arugula in imperfect conditions.
Frequently Asked Light Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about arugula’s light needs:
Can arugula be grown indoors without natural sunlight?
Yes! With adequate grow lighting, arugula can thrive indoors without any natural sunlight. Use LED grow lights to provide 10-16 hours of daily light.
What are signs my arugula is getting too much or too little light?
Too little light causes leggy, sparse growth and pale leaves. Too much light leads to wilting, browning leaves.
Does arugula need grow lights in winter when sunlight is scarce?
Supplementing limited winter sunlight with grow lights will allow arugula to continue thriving. Provide 10-16 hours of light daily.
What type of grow light is best for arugula?
Full-spectrum LED or fluorescent lamps that provide light in the 6000-7000K range work best to mimic natural sunlight.
Can I grow arugula under a patio, porch or carport with filtered light?
Filtered sunlight in these locations may limit growth, but arugula can tolerate it. Just provide the brightest light possible.
Let There Be Light: Fulfilling Arugula’s Illumination Needs
In the end, arugula just wants what we all do – to soak up some sunshine! By honoring arugula’s light requirements, we can enjoy bountiful harvests of tasty greens.
Arugula will richly reward proper lighting with vigorous growth, delights for our palette, and nutrition for our table. So go ahead, shine a light on your arugula. Like us, it thrives when illuminated by the sun’s radiant glow. With the right exposure, you’ll reap spicy, aromatic leaves that bring joy with every bite. When it comes to arugula, let there be light!
Arugula Stays Fresh Longer Than Many Greens
Theres a reason that you see so many of the same leafy greens over and over again at the grocery store and never see others. That reason is their shelf life. Greens that wilt quickly are hard to ship to stores and look ugly on shelves, making it unlikely that anyone would buy them.
Arugula is not technically a lettuce. It comes from a different family (lettuces come from the aster family, while arugula comes from the brassica family). However, it shares its tendency to stay fresh for longer with many of the lettuces you see at the store, namely romaine, iceberg, butter crunch, red lettuce, and spring mixed greens.
Arugula Leaves Can Be Harvested Many Times
Arugula is a soft-leaved, cut-and-come-again salad green. Like romaine, red lettuces, and spring mixed greens, the leaves are incredibly easy to pick. If you harvest the older, outer leaves and leave the center to keep on growing, you can come back in a couple of weeks and harvest more leaves.