Though it grows like a weed and takes very little care, arugula adds a gourmet touch to salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. This spicy green with its nutty tang is one of the star ingredients in mesclun lettuce mixes.
Also known as roquette and rocket, arugula is native to Southern Europe. It can be grown all year here, but does best in the cooler weather of winter and spring.
Arugula germinates and grows so readily that it won’t last long on nursery shelves, so it must be planted from seed, says Sharon Kaszan, trials manager for W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a mail-order seed company in Warminster, Pa.
“Plant arugula seed now, and you’ll be harvesting tender, zesty leaves in three to four weeks,” she says.
Arugula is an annual that will last three to four months. Its young leaves are the mildest; the larger the leaves, the stronger and tangier their flavor. Once the plant begins flowering, the leaves tend to become bitter; the flowers are edible. Hot weather also causes a stronger flavor in the leaves.
There are two main types of arugula seeds, which can be found in nurseries and through mail-order. Standard arugula has smooth, green, almost oak-shaped leaves. Italian wild rustic arugula has smaller, more finely lobed leaves. The latter type is said to have a heartier taste that makes a great last-minute addition to pasta dishes and atop pizza.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
* Plant arugula in an area that gets at least six hours of sun daily. In a shadier area, arugula will grow but produce less flavorful leaves.
* To plant in the ground, simply loosen the area with a rake to about 4 inches. Unless your soil is very heavy clay, amending isn’t necessary. Broadcast seed in a patch, or plant in a row, then cover with quarter-inch of soil and water thoroughly. Keep soil moist while the seeds are germinating, which should occur in five to seven days.
* When space is limited, arugula thrives in containers. Fill the pot with a pre-moistened seed-starting formula or high quality potting soil. Sprinkle seeds on top and cover with one-eighth- to one-quarter-inch of soil and water.
* Keep arugula plants moist but not soggy. When it isn’t raining, they will need water every four to five days, depending on your soil type and the plants’ location. Container plants will need to be watered more often in dry weather.
* No fertilizer is required, unless your soil is nutrient poor. To fertilize, add organic food at the time of planting, such as a 5-2-2, or use an organic liquid fertilizer when the plants have their first set of true leaves.
* Sow seed every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest of young tender leaves at peak flavor.
* Keep arugula thinned out so that the flavor develops in the remaining leaves and the plant doesn’t get weedy and flower quickly.
* For a free Burpee catalog featuring two types of arugula, call (800) 888-1447 or try the company on the Internet: www.burpee.com
