Arugula is a versatile leafy green that adds a peppery punch to salads, sandwiches, pesto and more. But like most vegetables, proper spacing is crucial when planting arugula to ensure your crop thrives. In this article, we’ll explore why arugula spacing matters and provide tips to help you space your arugula plants for optimal growth and bountiful harvests.
Why Arugula Spacing Matters
Arugula is a fast-growing, cool weather crop that reaches maturity quickly, sometimes in as little as 30 days. However, overcrowding arugula plants causes them to compete for resources like sunlight, water and nutrients. This leads to poor growth, lower yields and increases susceptibility to pests and diseases.
With proper spacing, arugula plants develop strong, healthy root systems and foliage. Their growth won’t be stunted or compromised by crowding. Adequate spacing also allows for better air circulation, which reduces humidity levels and disease risk.
Recommended Arugula Spacing
The ideal arugula spacing depends slightly on the variety you’re growing, but general guidelines are:
- Space plants 6-8 inches apart
- Allow 12-18 inches between rows
For container grown arugula, make sure each plant has at least 4 inches of room to avoid overcrowding
Tips for Planting Arugula
Follow these tips for successfully spacing and growing arugula
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Start with high quality, non-GMO seeds suited for your growing zone. Purchase from a reputable source.
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Prepare soil by mixing in 2-3 inches of compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and nutrients Arugula thrives in fertile, well-draining soil.
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Direct sow seeds 1⁄4 inch deep, 1 inch apart in rows or clusters spaced 12 inches apart. Gently firm soil after planting and water gently.
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Once seedlings emerge, thin to proper spacing by snipping off unwanted plants with scissors. This prevents disturbing the remaining seedlings.
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Water when top inch of soil is dry. Provide 1-2 inches of water per week. Avoid overwatering.
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Apply a balanced organic fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Arugula is a light feeder but benefits from occasional feeding.
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Consider using row covers at planting to protect young plants from pests. Remove covers once plants are established.
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Harvest outer leaves first and regularly to encourage continuous growth.
Other Tips for Healthy Arugula
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Grow arugula in full sun to partial shade—some afternoon shade is beneficial in hot climates.
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Choose bolt resistant varieties if growing in summer, as heat causes premature flowering.
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Growing arugula near plants like lettuce, peas and carrots can be beneficial. Avoid planting near beans.
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Add 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
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Check under leaves frequently for signs of aphids or other pests and treat organically if needed.
When to Harvest Arugula
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Begin harvesting leaves when they reach 2-3 inches in length. Use scissors to cut leaves off near the base of the plant.
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Flavor is best when plants are young. Leaves become more bitter as they mature.
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Harvest regularly to prevent premature bolting, which happens when the weather gets too warm.
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Don’t remove more than 1/3 of the leaves at a time. This maintains plant health and allows regrowth.
Enjoying Your Fresh Arugula
Once harvested, arugula can be eaten raw in salads or lightly cooked by sauteing or grilling. Here are some tasty ways to eat fresh arugula from your garden:
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Arugula salad with shaved Parmesan and lemon vinaigrette
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Pizza with arugula, prosciutto and goat cheese
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Omelet filled with arugula, tomatoes and feta
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Pesto with arugula, basil, pine nuts and olive oil
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Paninis or wraps with roasted veggies and fresh arugula
Saving Arugula Seeds
Let a few arugula plants flower and set seed in summer. Once seed pods appear and dry out, collect them, remove the seeds and store in an airtight container in a cool location to plant next season.
When consistently saving seeds from your healthiest plants, you’ll develop strains well adapted for your own garden over time.
Growing Arugula Indoors
Arugula can also be grown indoors in containers year round. Use a quality potting mix and place in a sunny window. Follow similar spacing and care as growing outdoors. Cut leaves as needed for fresh indoor grown arugula.
The Takeaway on Arugula Spacing
Allowing proper space between your arugula plants prevents overcrowding and competition for resources. This results in tender, mild flavored leaves over an extended harvest period rather than stunted growth and bolting. Refer to the recommended guidelines in this article for both outdoor and container plantings. With the right spacing and care, your homegrown arugula will keep your salads and pesto deliciously stocked.
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.
How to Plant Arugula
I recommend growing arugula from seed as opposed to buying a starter plant from a nursery or garden center. Those plants sown directly into the place where theyll grow will quickly catch up to stressed-out store plants. (Plus, you can buy like 200 arugula seeds for $4, the same price youd pay for one starter plant.)
Arugula should be planted directly by seed into the garden or container where it will grow.
Arugula seeds look like kale seeds, which is to say, they’re tiny. The simplest way to sow these seeds is to take a bunch between your fingers and rub your hands together to scatter the seeds over your raised bed or container, right on top of the soil. Use your hand to rough up the soil a bit after. You don’t want to bury arugula seed too deep—it really just needs to make soil contact. Shop Our Favorite Planting Tools
If planting intensively is not for you or if youd like to have each plant grow to its full maturity, then youll need to space each teeny tiny seed about four inches from one another in staggered lines.
Arugula loves growing in compost, so you can always add a thin layer of fresh compost over your newly planted arugula seeds, just be sure not to bury them too deep.
Water your seeds in well, and you’ll start to see seedlings emerge in six to ten days.
Growing Arugula From Seed to Harvest
FAQ
How far apart should I plant arugula?
What not to plant next to arugula?
How many arugula per square foot garden?
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Vegetable Type
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Plant Spacing Per Square
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Arugula
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4
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Asian Greens
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4
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Basil
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2-4
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Beans (bush)
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4-9
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How far apart should arugula seeds be planted?
Plant arugula seeds about a quarter inch deep with one inch of spacing between seeds. Space rows about 10 to 12 inches apart. Generally, you’ll want to thin plants to 2-3 inches apart or 6 inches apart, depending on the size of plant you desire. 6. Water Water arugula plants at least once per week. Keep an eye out of dry conditions.
How do you grow arugula seeds?
Sow multiple seeds ¼ inch deep, spacing 1 inch apart, and cover with a thin layer of soil. If growing in rows, space the rows 10 inches apart. After sowing, thoroughly water the soil until damp. Arugula will germinate in approximately seven to 10 days. Once seedlings emerge and are several inches tall, thin your plants to 6 inches apart.
How to grow arugula?
1. Seed – Arugula seeds are small, round, and can have a brown, gray, or black color. Arugula plants start from seed. With high-quality seeds, germination rates will be high, and arugula starts to sprout within a week.
Can arugula grow in a container?
Arugula makes an excellent container plant, as it grows quite compact and has a shallow root system. Opt for a container that is at least 8 inches deep and 10 to 12 inches wide. Once you decide where to plant your arugula, it’s time to start sowing your seeds. Learn how to grow arugula from seed using the directions below.