If you love arugula in your salads as much as I do, you’ll want to learn how to grow arugula on your own. You can do this in pots or in your backyard.
What Is Arugula
Arugula or rocket is a vegetable that has a fresh peppery flavor and is great in salads, on pizza and pasta. Arugula is also called garden rocket or rocket and comes from the Mediterranean region. It’s a staple vegetable in Italian and French cuisine.
Arugula Health Benefits
Apart from being incredibly tasty, arugula has amazing health benefits as part of the brassica family (the plant family of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage). Here are some ways arugula can benefit your health according to Medical News Today:
- as a cruciferous vegetable it contains compounds that can reduce cancer risk
- consuming arugula regularly can help prevent osteoporosis due to its high content in calcium and vitamin K
- arugula might help prevent and fight diabetes thanks to its anti-diabetic properties
- arugula and other cruciferous vegetables can benefit your heart health and reduce atherosclerosis
Why Grow Arugula?
How about having a supply of arugula at home at all times? That’s enough of a reason for me…
Other benefits include:
- saving money – arugula can be quite pricy
- less plastic – arugula is usually packaged in plastic and growing your own can help save the environment
- you know what’s in there – you cannot know for sure with store-bought arugula how it’s been treated, you know about your own
- eat as little or as much as you want – arugula goes bad in a matter of days and it’s a shame to throw it out if you don’t eat it within the first few days
- seeing your plants grow is very fulfilling!
Growing arugula In Pots Or Outside
- Sowing: To make the seedbed, flatten the soil add the seeds 1-2 cm or 1/2 inch apart. Add soil on top 1-2 cm (1/4-1/2 inch) – it’s best to use rich, well-drained soil. Add water and make sure to keep the soil moist, but not too wet. Keep at warm temperatures, between 10-25C (50-70F).
- The arugula will germinate, but what we want is to get the arugula when it has grown small roots. This will happen when the plant gets its 2nd set of leaves. Once they’re there, it’s time to take the small plants out with the root.
- To plant and grown arugula, add soil to new pots, make a hole for each root with a stick and plant the root 2 cm (1/2 inch) into the soil. Cover with soil and add water to keep the plant moist and to even the soil. Keep in a bright, sunny place. Water every 2-3 days, depending on the outside temperature, making sure the soil is always moist (not too wet, not too dry). If the arugula starts to get yellow, one reason can be that you’re watering it too often – if this happens you need to stop watering your plant for a while.
- The arugula will make small bushes.
How To Use Arugula / Arugula Recipes
You can use arugula in salads, on top of pasta, risotto or pizza! Here are some recipes you might enjoy:
- Arugula, Avocado & Tomato Salad
- Garlic Squid Recipe
- 10-Minute Tortilla Pizza
- Chickpea Salad
- Avocado Chicken Lunch Bowls
- Gorgonzola Quesadilla
- Creamy Pasta With Pesto & Arugula
- Healthy Everyday Salad
- 10-Minute Vegetarian Quesadilla
- Garlic Shrimp With Broccoli
- Chickpea Tuna Salad
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