Arugula - Leafy Green on the Rise

Arugula - Leafy Green on the Rise

Arugula (lat. Rucola selvatica) - is also known as Wild rucola, under which name it is mainly cultivated abroad. It is a Mediterranean plant. In the Czech Republic, it is difficult to purchase true Arugula seeds. It is often confused with Garden rocket (which we also offer). These are two distinct plants with different flavors.

Arugula is a perennial plant. The more you pick it, the more it grows. It creates lush and, most importantly, tasty growth in your garden bed. It blooms yellow, has small seeds, and has a sharper, somewhat nutty flavor. The seeds are used to make Dijon mustard. The leaves are narrower, more elongated and more serrated. Similar to a dandelion leaf. It survives winter as a root, which sprouts in spring. It self-seeds excellently. Unused plants with roots can be layered with sand over winter and planted in spring; they sprout very quickly.

Garden rocket (lat. Eruca sativa) is also a brassica plant. It is very similar to Rucola. Rocket is annual, blooms white, has larger seeds from which spicy mustard is also made, and can also be grown on cotton wool.

Another plant from these mustard-like plants from the brassica family is Wild rocket (lat. Diplotaxis tenuifolia) - also called wild arugula or wild rucola. This plant grows wild along sidewalks and paths. The leaves are edible and tasty. It creates numerous tall inflorescences. The flowers are yellowish.

Arugula leaves can also be purchased in supermarkets, imported mainly from Italy and Austria, however the price per kilogram is quite high, around 200-400 CZK/kg, so it is simpler and cheaper to grow this tasty and healthy plant yourself.

It is also suitable for a small garden. It grows to a maximum height of 20 cm, when flowering 40-60 cm.

Growing Garden Rocket

Garden rocket - does not require any special care. It is planted from spring until August. Cultivation can also be fun for children. Whether growing on cotton wool (even in winter months), or with the help of seed tapes in garden beds or in planters. Arugula will grow on a windowsill at home, on a balcony, or in a garden bed. Arugula really grows fast and vigorously. If you want a cultivated bed, plant it in a planter first and define its space in advance.

Growing Arugula:

• on cotton wool - growing at home - if we grow on cotton wool, prepare a tray on which we place cellulose (cotton wool) and water it. Sprinkle seeds evenly. In approximately 7-10 days the arugula will germinate and after approximately 14 days to six weeks we can harvest the juicy leaves.
• in a planter box - arugula can also be grown on a balcony in a planter box. It grows better in substrate. The substrate provides more nutrients. We provide the plant with regular watering. We pick and consume the leaves regularly as well. The plant quickly regrows and the leaves grow back.
• in beds - we sow arugula in rows 20 cm apart. Arugula is a "survivor" - the more we pick it, the more it grows back. If you don't damage the plant's root, it will regrow and thus provide multiple harvests. It forms an indestructible growth. It overwinters as a root which regrows in spring. This root can be preserved and replanted.

Arugula prefers a sunny location. It's also suitable for a small garden. It grows to a height of 20 cm, and up to 40-60 cm when flowering. It spreads excellently. We recommend narrower vegetable beds for smaller gardens, but also in general. They are more practical for hoeing and weeding. The distance between two paths should not be greater than 1.2 m. This width is optimal for planting and plant growth.

Seed Tapes

When sowing plants using seed tapes, time-consuming seed spacing is eliminated. The seeds are already placed at the correct distances. Seed tapes are also ideal for growing vegetables in balcony planters, where space is truly limited.

Always try to maintain the specified spacing of individual seeds when sowing, so that each plant has the right to full-fledged space for its proper growth and gives you the best possible harvest.

Uses of Arugula

Arugula contains many vitamins that benefit human health, strengthens immunity, increases appetite, and helps ward off fatigue. It contains vitamin C and beta-carotene. It has detoxifying effects, purifies the blood, and contains anticarcinogenic substances (anti-cancer).

Arugula has very rich and tasty uses in culinary arts - it tastes great in salads, pasta dishes, pizza, appetizers, generally in Mediterranean cuisine (Arugula leaves were discovered in Bologna), where it is part of traditional dishes. Arugula is distinctly peppery. Slightly bitter, with an unmistakable taste. It pairs excellently with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar in vegetable salads.

It is also used to prepare Italian pesto.

Recipe for arugula pesto:

Delicious, simple and excellent pesto for pasta (can also be spread on toasted baguette) can be prepared from a bunch of rocket leaves, pine nuts (cashew nuts can also be used), extra virgin olive oil, parmesan, a drop of lemon, salt and pepper.

Blend everything or manually crush and grind in a mortar. Mix the prepared pesto into the pasta. We can also spread it on traditional Italian ciabatta (bread), or add it to salad (mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves). Fresh fragrant pesto cannot be matched by canned versions. The base of pesto can also be basil. It can be used instead of rocket, with all other ingredients remaining the same.

Healthy Sprouts

Rocket can also be sprouted and the entire plant can be used in various forms for consumption. Sprouts are an integral part of healthy eating.

Sprouts contain no preservatives and are rich in provitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B12, E, K, minerals - especially calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. In sprouts you will also find a whole range of beneficial enzymes that support digestion and overall digestive function.

Sprouts are suitable for children from 1 year old onwards and support proper growth. Healthy sprouts can be part of salads, spreads, soups or vegetable dishes.

For growing, special containers designed for safe sprout cultivation can be used.

Author: Hana Michalíková