Arugula is a quick-growing leafy green that can go from seed to salad in as little as 3-4 weeks. Getting to know the different stages of arugula’s life cycle can help you provide the right care at each phase for the best harvests. Join me as we explore arugula’s journey from seed to seedling to maturity.
Seed Stage
It all starts with the tiny arugula seed Arugula seeds are quite small, about 15-2 mm long. They have a creamy tan exterior with intricate dark brown striping.
Fresh arugula seeds usually germinate within 5-10 days when sown in moist soil with temperatures of 60-70°F, Speed germination by soaking seeds overnight before planting Seeds planted too early in cold conditions are prone to rotting Time sowing 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost,
Sow seeds 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch deep, about 2 inches apart in rows or wide bands. Keep soil moist but not soaked. Consider mixing in radish seeds to mark where you sowed since arugula seedlings look similar to weed seedlings. The radish seeds will germinate and poke up faster, marking your rows.
Seedling Stage
Within 1-2 weeks after sowing, you’ll spot the first tiny arugula seedlings emerging. Look for seedlings to reach an average height of 1-3 inches with 2-4 small oval leaves in the first 2-3 weeks.
Early on, seedlings form a small taproot and are vulnerable to pests like flea beetles that can decimate young plants. Use floating row covers to protect delicate seedlings.
Thin seedlings to 4 inches apart once they reach 1-2 inches tall. Crowded plants compete for light and space, resulting in smaller leaves and reduced yield.
Leaf Production & Growth Stage
Once established, arugula really takes off, quickly forming leaves for harvesting. The onset of vigorous leaf production marks the transition into the vegetative growth stage as plants focus energy on photosynthesis in the leaves rather than the roots.
From 3-5 weeks after germination, established plants reach heights of 5-6 inches tall. Leaves become more arrow-shaped with deeply lobed bases and smooth margins. Plants produce multiple leaves in quick succession for steady harvests.
Time your first harvest just 35-45 days from seed sowing when plants have 5-6 true leaves. Cut outer leaves with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving at least 2-3 interior leaves so the plant can continue growing. You can get up to 3 early cuttings this way before plants bolt in hot weather.
Bolting & Flowering Stage
As a cool weather crop, arugula thrives in spring and fall. But once temperatures climb above 80°F, arugula shifts focus from leaf growth to flower production and seeds. This stage is called bolting, and results in rapid elongation of the main stalk as it shoots skyward to display the bright white flowers.
At first, you may notice the main stalk thickening before it shoots upward. Leaves also elongate and turn more bitter in taste as arugula starts to bolt. It’s best to harvest promptly once you notice bolting commence.
Delicate, cross-shaped white flowers with four petals will bloom 7-10 days after stalks elongate. Left on the plant, these flowers will drop seeds for future generations of arugula plants. You can collect seeds for saving or cut the stalks to bring remaining growth back to foliage production.
Going to Seed
If left unchecked, each arugula flower will dry and drop dozens of seeds to the ground. Seed pods called siliques will start out bright green before fading to tan as seeds mature. Opening the skinny siliques reveals two rows of tiny, pear-shaped arugula seeds.
You can simply let some arugula plants bolt, flower, and drop seeds each season. This self-seeds new plants for the fall. Just watch for volunteer seedlings in empty parts of your garden and let them grow or pluck as needed.
For seed saving, allow pods to dry on plants before harvesting and cleaning seeds. Store arugula seeds in a cool, dark place to plant the following season.
Key Tips for Each Stage
Follow these tips to keep arugula thriving through each stage of development:
Seed Stage
- Sow seeds 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch deep
- Soak seeds before planting to speed germination
- Time sowing 2-3 weeks before last frost
- Keep soil moist for seedlings
Seedling Stage
- Protect young seedlings from pests
- Thin crowded seedlings for optimal growth
- Allow 1-3 inches of early growth before first cuts
Leaf Production Stage
- Fertilize plants every 2-3 weeks to fuel growth
- Start harvesting leaves at 3-5 weeks
- Cut outer leaves to prolong harvests
Bolting & Flowering Stage
- Expect flowers after 80°F temps
- Cut flowering stalks to prevent rampant self-seeding
- Harvest remaining leaves promptly before bitter taste develops
Seed Maturation Stage
- Allow seed pods to dry on plants before harvesting
- Collect seeds for saving or allow self-seeding
- Store seeds in a cool, dark place for planting next season
Troubleshooting Arugula Growth Issues
While arugula typically grows with ease, occasionally you may run into some hiccups. Here are some common issues and solutions:
Leggy seedlings – Not enough light, thin for air circulation
Slow growth – Low temperatures, boost light exposure
Pale leaves – Lacking nutrients, add fertilizer
Failed germination – Soil too cold, sow when soils reach 60°F
Buttoning – Premature hot temps, provide shade in heat
Bitter taste – Bolting initiated, harvest promptly
No germination – Seeds too old, sow fresh seed
Sparse leaves – Improve light and reduce spacing
Stunted plants – Root damage, thin to reduce competition
The Grower’s Calendar: Key Growing Schedule for Arugula
Following this ideal planting schedule will keep your arugula crop thriving:
Late Winter: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
Early Spring: Transplant or sow seeds outside 2-3 weeks before last frost
Late Spring: Succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continual harvests
Summer: Grow arugula in shade or indoor with lights to prevent bolting
Early Fall: Sow again in late summer for fall harvests
Winter: Grow indoors under lights or supplement natural light
Adjust timing based on your climate, using season extenders like cold frames or tunnels to expand the spring and fall growing season where possible.
Enjoy All the Stages for Continual Harvests
One of the joys of growing your own arugula is getting to enjoy fresh-picked leaves throughout the season. By coordinating successive planting times and preventing premature bolting, you can keep the harvests rolling.
So embrace arugula’s journey from seed to seedling to succulent leaves. With the right care at each phase, you’ll be harvesting armfuls of tangy greens to enliven salads, pizzas, pesto, and more for months on end. Let’s fill our kitchens with the fruits of arugula’s many stages!
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When to Plant Arugula
Arugula is a member of the brassica family, along with kale, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, and several other dark leafy greens that are so good for you. This family is a cool-weather bunch, but arugula is that one member of the family that tends to do its own thing—every family has one of those, right?
Even though your seed packet might tell you to grow arugula in the cool season when the temperatures are above freezing but below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, Ive found you can stretch arugulas growing season well into your colder and hotter months of the year. Arugula is just not very picky about temperature. It’s way more heat-tolerant than most salad greens, and it can even withstand some frost.
All that to say, you can grow arugula far outside of its optimal growing time, and in warmer climates, you can actually grow this green year round.
My Rooted Garden clients in Houston, Texas, are harvesting arugula leaves from their gardens even when the temperature spikes over 95 degrees and all other leafy greens have long since bolted and gone to seed. Few other plants can stand the heat quite like this little green, and this characteristic alone makes arugula a must-have when you’re missing that garden-fresh taste of salads in the hottest months of the year.
If youre somewhere warm, wait until temperatures are at least below 90 degrees to plant your arugula. A mature plant will be able to better withstand higher temps than a seedling. I typically planted arugula in September in Houston so that I could harvest leaves all fall and into the winter. If I planted seeds in June or July, I would put them in the shade under larger plants like tomatillos and peppers.
If you live somewhere a bit colder, you can plant arugula before your last frost date, as soon as your soil is workable. Using frost cloth or cold frames will protect your little arugula seedlings from frost damage.
In the Chicago area, I plant arugula seeds as early as February. Arugula leaves from seeds I plant in early February are among the first cool-season plants I get to harvest by late March. My goal is to continue growing the plants throughout the spring, summer, and fall, for at least eight months total of arugula leaf production. Ill continue planting arugula all the way until Im four to six weeks out from my anticipated first frost date of the fall. That means I can keep going until late November or so, especially if I use a frost cover over my beds.
Where to Grow Arugula
Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale might require a lot of space in your garden, but arugula is the weird cousin, remember? Its entire growth pattern is different than typical brassica family members. It can grow bigger if you let it reach full maturity, but its also perfectly fine being grown in a small space if its leaves are harvested frequently. Following my intensive planting methods, you can plant as many as 9 to 16 plants per square foot, depending on how frequently you plan to harvest the leaves.
Arugula can be grown in raised beds, containers, and even pots. It has a shallow root system, so you only need to give the roots a good six inches to stretch down, though 12 inches is always preferable if you have a container that deep. (Explore my list of the best containers for growing salad greens if you need some inspiration for your arugula setup.)
As far as light requirements go, again, arugula is pretty easy going. Youll get better leaf production if you give your arugula plants six or more hours of sunlight per day, but your plant will live and continue to grow on just four hours.
Growing Arugula From Seed to Harvest
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