Arugula has become an increasingly popular leafy green vegetable in recent years thanks to its distinctive peppery taste that adds flavorful punch to salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more. If you love arugula and want to grow your own at home, you may be wondering where to find the best source for purchasing arugula plants. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of various options to help you determine the ideal source for buying healthy arugula plants.
Check Your Local Garden Center
Visiting your local garden center is often a great first stop when looking to purchase vegetable plants like arugula. At the garden center, you can personally inspect the plants before buying to choose ones that look healthy and robust The staff working there typically have extensive plant knowledge as well and can provide useful care tips and variety recommendations tailored to your growing zone and specific needs.
Garden centers allow you to take the plants home the same day, avoiding any shipping or transit damage. However, selection is limited to what is currently in stock, which may not include more unique arugula varieties. Prices can also be higher than online sources.
Order from Reputable Online Nurseries
Ordering arugula plants from an online nursery opens up many more variety choices, including heirloom and organic types you won’t find at local stores. Well-established nurseries with good reputations for shipping healthy plants and providing good customer service are your best bet. Make sure to read customer reviews and check with gardening forums to identify the most recommended nurseries before placing an order.
Ordering online means you’ll have to wait for shipping, so factor in a few extra days or weeks before your plants arrive. Special care must be taken when unboxing plants to avoid damage during transit. Despite these small hassles, the ability to access a diverse array of arugula varieties makes online buying worthwhile for many homeowners.
Grow Arugula from Seed
For the most flexibility and cost savings, you may want to purchase arugula seeds and grow your own transplants. This allows you to find even rare arugula varieties sold by reputable seed companies. You can choose between starting seeds in containers indoors or direct sowing outdoors once the soil warms up.
Growing from seed takes more time and effort than buying transplants, but enables you to control the entire growing process You’ll need a quality growing medium, proper sowing techniques, and consistent moisture and warmth to nurture seeds into healthy seedlings ready for transplanting outside Indoor grow lights may be needed for best results.
Check with Local Farmers
If you’re eager to source arugula plants locally, check with farmers at your neighborhood farmer’s market to see if any vendors sell vegetable starts. Buying directly from small-scale farmers who nurture transplants with care supports local agriculture and produces plants well-adapted to your region.
Availability will depend on the individual farmer’s inventory and growing capabilities. But when available farmer-grown transplants sold at markets are typically very reasonably priced. You can also ask questions directly to the grower and get helpful planting and care advice.
What to Look for When Buying
Whenever you purchase an arugula plant, inspect it closely to ensure you choose vigorous, healthy specimens that will establish well once planted. Look for:
- Rich green leaves without spots, limpness or other defects
- Firm, compact structure without excessive stretching
- Good root development with white feeder roots
Avoid arugula plants that are root-bound in their pots or that show evidence of pests, disease, rot or other problems.
Growing Arugula Indoors
Arugula can be grown successfully indoors if you provide sufficient light and use quality potting mix. Select compact arugula varieties that will grow well in containers. Place in a sunny south-facing window or under grow lights. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced indoor plant fertilizer following package directions. Grow enough plants to allow for successive harvests.
How Long Does Arugula Take to Mature?
When grown from seed, arugula usually takes 4-6 weeks to reach maturity and be ready for first harvest. If you purchase transplants instead, you can begin harvesting leaves in just 3-4 weeks. So buying established plants saves roughly 2 weeks of growing time.
Caring for Arugula Plants
Once you get your arugula transplants home, proper care is vital for health. Arugula thrives with:
- At least 6 hours of full sun daily
- Rich, fertile soil amended with compost
- Consistent watering approximately 1-2 inches per week
- Monthly fertilization with a balanced vegetable fertilizer
- Picking outer leaves regularly to stimulate new growth
With the right growing conditions, arugula will provide a steady supply of delicious, nutritious leaves.
The Best Arugula Varieties to Grow
If you’re new to growing arugula, below are some excellent varieties to try in your garden:
Astro
This milder arugula variety is perfect for those who find some types too intensely peppery. The rosette-forming leaves can be harvested as baby greens or allowed to mature for more mellow flavor. Takes about 38 days to full maturity.
Garden Tangy
An heirloom Italian arugula variety with beautiful, deeply cut foliage. The lively, peppery flavor adds an authentic touch to Italian dishes. Ready for picking in 30-35 days.
Red Dragon
Stunning red-veined foliage makes a visual statement in salads. The milder flavor works well for arugula newbies. Matures around 45 days from seeding.
Rocket
A classic arugula variety with excellent crisp texture and pleasantly peppery zing. Ready for cut-and-come-again harvesting in about 40 days.
Slow Bolt
Perfect for warm climates, this variety is slow to bolt in summer heat. The larger leaves work great in sandwiches and wilted into pasta dishes. Matures in 43 days.
With so many excellent sources available, you can easily find healthy arugula transplants, seeds or starts. Do a little research to pick the best option for your gardening style, flavor preferences and growing conditions. Then get ready to enjoy homegrown, fresher-than-fresh arugula all season long. Let us know how your arugula harvest goes!
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Smaller, punchier, and hardier than standard arugula.
What makes one plant tame and another wild? People have co-evolved with plants over thousands years. We have changed plants and they have changed us. Many of our sweetest foods are the most cultivated. But some plants have held onto the spicy, spiky, and wild ways they use to ward off hungry creatures that might browse” and destroy” them. Wild Arugula is right on that cusp, tame enough to be delectable, and wild enough to keep our taste buds on their toes.
If you already like arugula, youll like wild arugula even more. If you already dislike arugula, well, steer clear. Wild arugula has an amplified arugula flavor, while its smaller leaves and pretty color make for a refined impression. Grab a small handful and toss chopped into a salad for a terrific arugula bite, or steam older leaves for use as a side green. This variety is suitable for growing as a microgreen.
| Unit | Price | Quantity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Pack (250 seeds) | $4.79 | In Stock | |
| 250 Seeds | $3.99 | In Stock | |
| 750 Seeds | $6.99 | In Stock | |
| 1 Ounce | $13.49 | In Stock | |
| 4 Ounces | $45.00 | Out of Stock | |
| 8 Ounces | $85.00 | Out of Stock | |
| 1 Pound | $125.00 | Out of Stock |
Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked. If transplanting, do so promptly; seedlings grow quickly and checked growth can cause premature bolting. Harvest when young for fresh use, when slightly older for braising. It can become stressed in mid-summer but loves cool weather and will thrive throughout the rest of the season, making it ideal for succession sowing. Very hard: will grow through winter with the protection of a cold frame or low tunnel.
| Days to Germination | 3-10 days |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 30-50 days |
| Planting Depth | ¼-½” |
| Spacing in Row | 4-6″ |
| Spacing Between Rows | 12-16″ |
| Height at Maturity | 3-6″ |
| Width at Maturity | 6-12″ |
| Sun Preference | Full to Little Sun |
Artwork by Natasha Zahn. Natasha brings out the bright and bold flavor of wild arugula in her garden-centered cut paper collage. Surrounded by sweeter and tamer varieties, this variety is a perfect pairing in any fresh-picked meal.
My Top 5 Best Seed Sources (Number 3 Will Make You Cry)
FAQ
What month do you plant arugula?
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Plant name
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Zone
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Plant seedlings/transplants outdoors
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Arugula
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3a
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May 1-15; sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
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Arugula
|
3b
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May 1-15; sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
|
|
Arugula
|
4a
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May 1-15; July 15-30
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|
Arugula
|
4b
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May 1-15; July 15-30
|
Where does arugula grow best?
Will arugula grow back after cutting?
Is arugula a perennial?
A: Most people grow arugula and plant arugula as an annual green. However, if you allow it to go to seed, it can be perennial. Q:How long does arugula plant live? A: Most of the time, you’ll grow arugula just for one season. If you allow it to self-seed, you can keep growing it for multiple years in a row. Q:What can you not plant near arugula?
Can you grow arugula indoors?
You can also grow arugula indoors in containers. It lends itself particularly well to indoor gardens because it grows quickly and has low-light requirements. You can also plant arugula in pots as ground cover for larger plants. Arugula roots are shallow, so they won’t interfere with the bigger plant.
Can you grow arugula in a container?
This plant is forgiving of somewhat shady conditions as long as there’s bright ambient light, but it won’t perform well in scorching heat, so pick your location accordingly. Alternatively, container grow arugula. When you plant arugula in containers, you can move your plant to optimize its placement depending on your local conditions.
Where can I buy arugula seeds?
Packets of seeds in a variety of sizes are available at Eden Brothers. The best thing about arugula is that there’s a cultivar out there to suit everyone’s personal tastes. Try growing several together and see which one (or ones) you love best. Your taste buds will thank you.