Keep the Arugula Leaf Party Going as Long as Possible

We all know arugula is so much tastier when it's fresh from the garden, so of course, we want to have healthy plants growing as long as possible. And we can do this by stretching the growing season and then taking steps to delay bolting, or going to seed.

Arugula is often considered a cool season crop, but you can actually grow it in warm and even hot weather. These little plants really aren't very picky about temperature, and they're way more heat-tolerant than many other salad greens.

So here's how you stretch your arugula growing season: First, start planting arugula before your last frost date, as soon as your soil is workable in the spring. Then, keep planting arugula as long as your temperatures are staying below 90°F. If your plants are mature before the heat of summer kicks in, they'll be better able to withstand high temps, especially if you keep these five tips and tricks in mind when planting and growing arugula.

Look for Slow Bolt Varieties When Buying Arugula Seeds

When you're shopping around for your arugula seeds, look for seed packets that say "slow bolt arugula". That means the plants have been bred to last a little longer in the garden.

Another option is to buy seeds that have been locally produced at your neighborhood nursery. Purchasing local seeds increases your chances of keeping your arugula around longer because it means growing a variety that's already used to your climate.

Growing your arugula from seeds sown directly in your garden can also help. Plants that have never gone through the stress of being moved tend to bolt slower than transplants.

Give Your Arugula Plants Some Shade

Arugula doesn't need full sun to grow—just four to six hours is enough for your plants to produce lots of tasty leaves for you. That means you can take measures to decrease the amount of sunlight your plants receive when the sun is at its strongest.

First, you could plan ahead and grow larger plants like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers around your arugula. That way, these much taller plants can provide a little bit of shade for your leafy greens. If you just can't wait to plant arugula but it's still brutally hot in August, definitely sow your seeds in the shade of larger plants.

Second, you could cover your raised beds with shade cloth when the temperatures are regularly above 90°F. The shade cloth will lower the temperature underneath and protect your plants from the worst of the sun. You can usually buy yourself a couple extra weeks by using shade cloth to prevent bolting.

And finally, if you're growing arugula in a container, place your plants somewhere they don't receive afternoon sun.

Water Your Arugula Plants More Often

Instead of giving arugula plants one deep watering a week as you might other plants, consider watering them a little every single day or every other day to keep the soil moist but not soaking. Arugula plants have shallow roots, which means they can't reach deep into the soil for more water when they need it.

Overall, your arugula plants need at least one to two inches of water per week to keep them at their peak flavor. Those leaves can quickly become too peppery if they're not getting enough water.

Harvest Your Arugula Leaves Regularly

Take leaves from the outside of the plant for your salad bowl on a regular basis. This keeps the plant healthy and encourages it to continue producing new leaves from the center of the plant. Bonus: you enjoy all those leaves at their tastiest, before they grow a little too large and spicy.

Also, the more you harvest your arugula, the more chance you have of snipping off immature flower stalks. This will help delay any bolting.

Learn how to harvest your arugula leaves to keep your plants productive.

Successively Plant Your Arugula

Come out every other week or so and plant a new row of arugula in your garden beds. Succession planting won't exactly prevent your arugula from bolting, but it will give you a continuous supply of fresh arugula for as much arugula pesto as possible. The idea is to have young, tender leaves ready for harvest as soon as the older plants are passing their prime.

You can do this even if your temps are in the 90s—just be aware that these plants will grow into seedlings and then almost immediately bolt. Your job is to get in there and harvest fresh leaves before that happens.

In the picture below, you can see the different arugula growing stages.

Signs of Bolting Arugula

Here are 3 signs your arugula plant is bolting, or going to seed. 

SIGN #1: THE ARUGULA LEAVES CHANGE SHAPE

Bolting arugula leaves are typically more serrated than the original leaves of the plant.

SIGN #2: THE ARUGULA PLANT INCREASES IN HEIGHT

A bolting arugula plant will suddenly grow much taller. I've seen arugula plants shoot up to 3 and even 4 feet tall.

SIGN #3: THE ARUGULA PLANT PRODUCES FLOWERS

When its time is nearing, your plant will produce pretty little white or yellow flowers.

What to Do When Your Arugula Plants Bolt

Arugula leaves are perfectly safe to eat at any point in the plant's life cycle, but the flavor does change once the plant begins focusing on seed production. Harvest a couple of leaves and do a taste test to see if they’re too peppery for your liking. Try braising some leaves in balsamic vinegar to make them appetizing once more.

If you're no longer enjoying what your plants are producing, you can pull them from your garden space to free up room to grow fresh arugula plants or something else. Cut the arugula right at the base, rather than yanking it out by the roots, to avoid disturbing neighboring plants.

I recommend keeping a couple plants in your garden and letting them go completely to seed. Pollinators like bees and butterflies adore those dainty white and yellow arugula flowers. Bonus: the flowers are 100 percent edible. I like tossing them into my salad bowl for a peppery kick.

Once the flowers have formed, you'll start to spot little bean-like seed pods. You can either collect seeds for next year from these pods once they turn brown or leave them to drop in the garden and sprout on their own. If you continue saving seeds from the best plants in your garden, you can actually breed plants that are better and better suited to growing in your unique space.

That's How You Enjoy Your Arugula Plants to the Fullest

Follow these tips and tricks to keep the arugula leaf party going as long as possible. But don't be upset when your plants are done. You may be losing those delicious leaves, but you're gaining seeds and feeding our pollinators. Our plants just keep on giving, even when we think they're done.

Thanks for being here and helping to make gardening ordinary again!