Can I grow arugula indoors?

Can I grow arugula indoors?

Arugula (Eruca sativa) is a leafy-green annual commonly grown as a salad green. Although it’s easily grown throughout the United States as a cool-season crop in outdoor gardens, it also can be grown indoors year round for harvest as a leafy green or as microgreens.

How much space does arugula need?

Arugula is a spicy green that grows best in cool weather. The best variety for cooking is common arugula; wild arugula, which is said to have a more intense flavor, can be stemmy. Arugula seeds can be direct-sown into the garden in shallow rows spaced 3 to 4 inches apart. Cover with 1/2 inch of soil, and water well.

What can you grow on a windowsill?

Suitable foods to grow on a windowsill over winter include:

• Lettuce.
• Radish.
• Carrot.
• Cherry tomato.
• Hot pepper.
• Bell pepper.
• Onion.
• Spinach.

When should I start arugula indoors?

Direct seed arugula in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked—as early as 8 weeks before the last frost in spring. Seeds germinate quickly even in cold soil and light frost will not harm the seedlings. Start indoors 12 to 8 weeks before the last frost or sow into the garden 2 weeks before the last frost.

What can I plant next to Arugula?

Plant arugula with these companions:

• Bush beans.
• Beets.
• Carrots.
• Cucumber.
• Dill.
• Lettuce.
• Onion.
• Spinach.

Does arugula regrow after cutting?

Each arugula seed produces one thin stem, which leaves grow out from. You can further your crop by cutting them back — the leaves will regenerate once or twice before getting too spicy, woody, or bitter. Arugula will grow back once cut, so don’t pull the stems.

What can you not plant near arugula?

Most plants in the nightshade or solanum family are incompatible with arugula plants. This is because nightshades prefer a more acidic soil pH of 5.5-6.5 while arugula prefers a more neutral soil pH of 6.5-7. It is not recommended to grow arugula next to eggplant, peppers, potatoes, or tomato.

Should I let my arugula flower?

Under row cover or between onions, the spring arugula crop passes quickly as lengthening days trigger the plants to bolt, and leaf quality deteriorates as the plants grow tall and produce flowers. Arugula flower buds and flowers are edible, and the petals are particularly good when snipped into summer salads.

How many times can you cut arugula?

You can cut up to one-third of the outer leaves at once or harvest a few leaves at a time. If you want to enjoy various flavor intensities, cut only smaller outer leaves, and leave the inner leaves to mature and develop a stronger flavor.

How do you harvest arugula without killing the plant?

How to harvest arugula without killing the plant. If you want to harvest baby arugula or keep your plants alive as long as possible, the best way to harvest is to pick individual leaves or practice “cut and come again” harvesting.

What do you do with overgrown arugula?

March out into your garden with a nice, sharp pair of scissors and give that overgrown arugula the culinary equivalent of a buzz cut. Mow it down and throw everything into a basket. If you have let things get so out of hand that some of the plants are flowering, cut off the flowers and throw them back into the patch.

Can you eat the stems of arugula?

Arugula is described as having a nutty and peppery flavor. It is used in salads. The leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds are all edible. It is a good source of vitamins A and C, which are important for eye health.

What is the health benefits of arugula?

What are the benefits of arugula?

• Calcium, which helps the blood to clot normally.
• Potassium, a mineral and an electrolyte that’s vital for heart and nerve function.
• Folate, a B vitamin.
• Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps support the immune system.
• Vitamin K, which helps with blood coagulation.

What to do with arugula that’s going bad?

If that arugula, spinach or kale needs to be used up quickly, toss it into the food processor with some good olive oil, oily nuts (like pine nuts or walnuts) and some grated hard cheese. Blend Parmesan, pecorino or even aged Gouda for a pesto that will taste lively over pasta or slicked onto bread as a sandwich spread.

Is arugula better cooked or raw?

Tips for Eating or Cooking: Eating arugula raw will likely provide your body with more of the healthy isothiocyanates than eating cooked arugula. However, by eating lightly cooked arugula, your body will absorb more of certain nutrients and carotenoids than when it is raw.

Can you use arugula in place of spinach?

Arugula, which has a peppery, mustard-like flavor, can be a great alternative to raw spinach, says Robert Schueller, public relations director for Melissa’s Produce. “It has many similarities to spinach, but you will find a lighter, tender taste to these greens,” he says in an email interview.

Can I use arugula instead of spinach in pasta?

Arugula is usually used raw, but it can be used in cooked dishes as well, much like spinach or other greens, or a fresh herb.

What is the difference between arugula and spinach?

What Is the Difference Between Arugula and Spinach? The arugula leaf is elongated with ridges, while spinach leaves are wide and oval shaped. Arugula has a peppery flavor, while spinach tastes mild and vegetal. When cooking with spinach, you’ll find it is thicker than arugula, therefore it holds up better over heat.