How to grow Arugula
Updated October 2026
Arugula, also called rocket or roquette, is a fast, peppery salad green from the Mediterranean that is ready to pick in about four to six weeks. It loves cool weather, tolerates frost and bolts quickly in heat, so sow it in spring and fall in the North and from fall through spring in Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Southwest. Sow a little every two or three weeks for a steady supply.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Arugula
Not to be confused with: Salad arugula (Eruca sativa) is an annual with broad, lobed leaves. Wild or sylvetta arugula (Diplotaxis) is a slower, more pungent perennial with narrow, deeply cut leaves that is slower to bolt in heat.
Where to plant
Grow arugula in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun during cool weather. As days warm, a spot with afternoon shade slows bolting. It grows best below about 75°F; heat and long days make it run to flower and turn the leaves hot and bitter.
Because it grows so fast, arugula fits into gaps between slower crops and in pots near the kitchen.
- Florida and the Gulf South: sow from fall through late winter, every two to three weeks. In South Florida, November to January.
- Texas, the Desert Southwest and Southern California: sow in early fall through winter and again in late winter.
- Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: sow in early spring and again from mid-August; July heat stops the seed sprouting and makes young plants bolt.
- Northeast, Midwest, Mountain West, Northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest: sow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring, then again from late July into September for fall.
- Northern California and Hawaii: a long cool-season window from fall to spring.
- Alaska: sow from May to July.
Choosing a variety
Salad arugula varieties such as Astro are fast and mild. Wild arugula (sylvetta) grows more slowly, tastes more pungent and holds in warm weather longer, so it suits late spring sowings.
How to plant
- Sow seed directly about 1/4 inch deep in rows 8 to 12 inches apart, or scatter it thinly across a bed for baby leaves.
- Keep the surface moist until seedlings come up, usually within a week; a dry, crusted seedbed leaves gaps.
- Thin to about 4 to 6 inches apart for full-size plants, eating the thinnings.
- Cover seedlings with floating row cover straight away if flea beetles are common in your garden.
- Sow again every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist. Dry soil makes arugula tough, hot-tasting and quicker to bolt.
It needs little feeding. Compost worked into the bed before sowing is usually enough.
Harvesting
Start picking outer leaves once they are a few inches long, about three to four weeks after sowing, or cut whole plants when they reach about 8 to 10 inches tall, about six weeks. Picking the outer leaves or cutting an inch above the base lets plants regrow for several more cuts.
Once arugula sends up a flower stalk, or becomes leggy, the leaves turn too bitter for most tastes. The white, cross-shaped flowers are edible and peppery, and bees visit them. Store leaves loosely wrapped in a damp towel in the fridge for a few days.
Growing in pots
Arugula grows well in a pot, trough or window box at least 6 inches deep. Sow thickly, keep the mix moist and cut it young as baby leaves.
Using it
Toss arugula into salads, pile it on pizza after it comes out of the oven, stir it into pasta, or blend it into pesto. Young leaves are milder; older leaves are hotter.
Companion planting
Arugula is a quick catch crop that fits between slower vegetables.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Flea beetles are the main pest of arugula, especially in warm spring weather.
Pests to watch for
- Flea beetles Many tiny round holes in the leaves, worst on young plants in spring. Cover with row cover from sowing.
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars and ragged holes in the leaves, mainly in warm weather.
- Aphids Clusters of small soft insects under leaves and on flower stalks.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on top of leaves with gray fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
Why is my arugula bolting so fast?
Heat and long days trigger flowering. Sow in spring and fall, or from fall to spring in the South, give it afternoon shade as weather warms, keep the soil moist, and sow small batches often. Wild arugula is slower to bolt.
Why is my arugula so spicy and bitter?
Older leaves, hot weather, dry soil and flowering all make it hotter. Pick leaves young, keep it watered and grow it in the cool seasons.
Does arugula grow back after cutting?
Yes. Pick outer leaves or cut plants an inch or so above the base, and they regrow for several more harvests until they bolt.
Why does my arugula have tiny holes in the leaves?
Those are flea beetles, small jumping beetles that feed on arugula and other cabbage-family greens. Cover sowings with floating row cover from the start.
When should I plant arugula?
In cool weather. In the North, sow from early spring and again from late summer. In Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Southwest, sow from fall through spring. Choose your region at the top of the page for the months.
Is rocket the same as arugula?
Yes. Arugula is the common US name; rocket and roquette are the names used in Britain and France.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Arugula; Seed Savers Exchange: How to grow arugula; West Coast Seeds: How to grow arugula.
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