How to Grow Arugula

Updated June 2026

A cool-season leafy green for the home garden.

Arugula is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.

🌱 Plant profile: Arugula, with sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.

When to plant

Arugula is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the arugula page for exact timing.

Varieties

• Astro, Fast, mild salad arugula (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
• Wild (Sylvetta), Slower, more pungent, heat-tolerant (Baker Creek)

How to grow it

• Sun & soil: part sun to light shade, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
• Spacing: about 6 in between plants.
• Sowing: barely cover the seed.
• Water: roughly 0.8 gal per plant every 2 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Flea beetle. In humid regions, Downy mildew can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Arugula is usually ready to harvest in roughly 6 weeks. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant arugula where you garden.

See also: Arugula in the plant library →

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