From seed to plate in record time: 3 tips for arugula from your own garden

Arugula is an excellent vegetable for beginning growers: it germinates easily and has a short growing time. This means that you do not have to wait months for your first harvest. With these 3 tips you will be enjoying fresh arugula from your own garden in no time.

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Someone is picking arugula leaves from the ground. — Arugula is usually eaten raw. Photo: Tim Sandall.

Arugula grows so fast that you can almost see it happening before your eyes. In a period of 20-30 days you can fill your plate with a delicious salad or other tasty arugula dish. Nothing beats the striking, peppery taste of this type of lettuce . The leaves are usually eaten raw - and the flowers are also edible (nice as a garnish!).

TIP In the new special issue of Gardeners' World,From Garden to Table , TV chef and nutritionist Sandra Ysbrandy shares a favourite recipe for flaxseed crackers with rocket and cashew dip. You'll find lots more growing tips and over 50 delicious recipe ideas in the magazine, so you'll always be inspired by what to do with your harvest.

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With these 3 tips you can successfully grow arugula in your own garden, in a container on the balcony or in the vegetable garden . Toi-toi-toi!

Someone is planting arugula seeds in the ground, in a seed furrow. — Rocket is best sown directly outdoors. Photo: Tim Sandall.

Rocket plants have a long taproot and do not tolerate root disturbance well. That is why it is best to sow rocket directly outdoors instead of pre-sowing in seed trays. Sow from March to September or – if you can protect them – until autumn, in good, fertile soil in the garden.

Prepare the soil well before sowing.

Make a short sowing furrow (groove) of about 1 cm deep.

Cover with a thin layer of soil.

Keep the soil moist, but not too moist, as this will dilute the flavor of the arugula.

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Remove the flower stalks from your arugula plants to prolong leaf production, unless of course you want to eat the flowers. In the summer it is useful to provide the plants with some shade to prevent bolting (this means that the plant is producing flower stalks).

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Someone is picking arugula among several types of lettuce in the vegetable garden. — It is smart to sow arugula continuously so that you can continue to harvest for weeks at a time.

Sow biweekly in spring and summer for a continuous crop. As the new crop takes over from the previous crop, you will have a steady supply of the tastiest fresh leaves even in a small space.

Tip!

Someone takes a cracker with arugula-cashew dip from a plate. — The recipe for this rocket cashew dip can be found in Gardeners' World 'From garden to table'. Photo: Sandra Ysbrandy.

You can harvest arugula from May to October, and sometimes even into December if you protect your plants. Harvest the leaves when they are large enough, by cutting them off with (pruning) shears or pinching them off between your thumb and index finger. Just like with lettuce, it is best to pick a few leaves from each plant. You can store the harvest in the refrigerator for a few days, but of course it is much tastier to eat it right away!

The photo shows delicious flaxseed crackers with rocket-cashew dip. Sandra Ysbrandy's recipe can be found in'From garden to table ', a special edition of Gardeners' World that will be published at the end of May.