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Arugula — Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa

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Arugula — Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa

layout: base.njk title: Arugula description: Growing Arugula in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below
Arugula plants with distinctive lobed leaves

Type: Annual
Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sun: Full sun to part shade (afternoon shade in warm weather)
Water: Moderate (1" per week, consistent moisture prevents bitterness)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardiness: Zones 2-11 (cool season annual, self-sows readily)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 2-6 oz per harvest (cut-and-come-again). Full plant: 4-8 oz.
  • Per 10' row: 3-6 lbs sustained harvest over season.
  • Per season: With succession planting (spring + fall): 8-15 lbs per 10' row annually.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Astro'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com), Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com)
  • Days: 40 days
  • Notes: Standard American variety. Medium green, deeply lobed leaves. Uniform growth. Slow to bolt for arugula. Mild, nutty flavor when young, more pungent when mature. Reliable producer. Good for baby leaf and full size.

'Sylvetta' (Wild Arugula)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 45 days
  • Notes: Heirloom wild type. Narrow, deeply serrated leaves. Slower growing, more cold hardy. Intensely peppery, spicy flavor. Self-sows readily. Perennial in zones 7+. More cold tolerant than cultivated types. Excellent for pestos and bold flavors.

'Apollo'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds (highmowingseeds.com)
  • Days: 35 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Light green, deeply lobed leaves. Very fast growing. Uniform, holds well in field. Slow bolting. Mild, nutty flavor. Popular with market growers for baby leaf production. Consistent quality.

'Arugula 29-66' (Garden Tangier)

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek
  • Days: 43 days
  • Notes: European heirloom (Italian). Medium green, oakleaf-shaped. Standard "garden arugula." Good bolt resistance. Nutty, peppery flavor. Traditional variety for Italian cuisine. Productive and reliable.

'Wasabi'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek
  • Days: 40 days
  • Notes: Specialty variety. Dark green, deeply lobed leaves. Intensely pungent, wasabi-like heat. Cold hardy. Unique flavor profile. Best for those who love strong arugula. Good for specialty markets.

'Dragon's Tongue'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 45 days
  • Notes: Heirloom. Deep red veins and stems, green leaves. Beautiful ornamental value. Intensely peppery. Cold hardy. Slower growing than green varieties. Adds color to salads. Mild bolt resistance.

'Giovanni'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds
  • Days: 42 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Medium green, deeply lobed. Uniform, vigorous. Slow bolting. Holds well after harvest. Mild, nutty flavor. Popular for pre-washed mixes. Reliable for multiple harvests.

'Speedling'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Territorial Seed Company (territorialseed.com)
  • Days: 30 days
  • Notes: Fastest maturing variety. Light green, deeply cut leaves. Very early baby leaf harvest. Quick turnaround for succession planting. Mild flavor. Best for rapid production cycles.

'Lina'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek
  • Days: 40 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Dark green, deeply lobed. Excellent cold tolerance. Slow to bolt. Uniform growth. Nutty, spicy flavor. Good for spring and fall. Holds well in field.

'Standard' (Common Garden Arugula)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, various suppliers
  • Days: 40 days
  • Notes: Open-pollinated, traditional type. Medium green, oakleaf shape. Self-sows readily. Peppery, nutty flavor. Reliable, adaptable. What most gardeners grow—often sold simply as "arugula" or "rocket."

🌾 Seed Saving

  • Method: Arugula is annual (or biennial in mild climates). Plants bolt readily in response to heat and long days. Allow plants to flower—tall spikes (1-2') with white or pale yellow flowers (four petals, typical brassica cross shape).

Flowers are insect-pollinated (bees, flies). Seed pods form 3-4 weeks after flowering, turning from green to brown when mature. Pods are narrow, beaked (resemble tiny rocket ships, hence the name "rocket").

Cut flower spikes when most pods are brown but before shattering. Hang in paper bags in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by rubbing pods between hands or beating bags.

Winnow by pouring between bowls in light breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 800 feet to 1/2 mile (arugula is insect-pollinated, can cross with other Eruca vesicaria varieties). For home use with one variety, 50-100 feet is usually adequate. Cage individual plants if growing multiple varieties. - Viability: 4-6 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers.

Small seeds store well. - Special notes: Arugula self-sows readily— often don't need to save seed intentionally. Leave some plants to flower and set seed, and volunteers will appear next season. For intentional seed saving, select plants with desirable traits (flavor, bolt resistance, leaf shape).

Let earliest-bolting plants flower first—they're adapted to your climate. In zone 6b/7a, fall-planted arugula that overwinters will bolt early in spring. Spring-planted arugula bolts as heat increases.

Save seed from multiple plants for genetic diversity..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead