Overview

What is called arugula in North American is known elsewhere as roquette, rucoli, and colewort. Eruca sativa is a short leafy green that grows about 12–24 inches tall and is packed with a powerful punch of spicy flavor. The leaves are recognizable in salad mixes by its deep and pinnately lobed leaves. Arugula flowers resemble its fellow kin in the brassica family: bunches of small creamy white-yellow flowers. Fruits of these flowers contain seeds which can be saved for future planting.

Dragon’s Tongue is a varietal of arugula developed in the UK and is characterized by dark green leaves with purple veins that make it aesthetically pleasing as well as tasty! This variety is more mild in flavor than many other types of arugula, which makes it a great option for those of us that might struggle with spiciness. Dragon’s Tongue is also a great choice for gardeners planning to plant all summer long and those living in warmer climate zones since it’s also slower to bolt than many other varieties of arugula.

  • Botanical Name: Diplotaxis tenuifolia
  • Plant Type: Vegetable
  • Variety: Dragon's Tongue
  • Growth Cycle: Annual
  • Season(s): Spring Summer Fall Winter
  • Climate Zone(s): 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b
  • Light: Full Sun Partial Shade
  • Soil Type(s): Clay Loamy Sandy
  • Yield: 1/2 lb per plant
  • Garden Dimensions: 16 plants per square foot
  • Germination: 5–10 days
  • Maturity: 50–60 days
  • Harvest: 50–95 days

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed:
Seed Depth: 1/8–1/4″
Space Between Plants: 1–6″
Space Between Rows: 6–12″
Germination Soil Temperature: 40–75°F, with an ideal range of 40–55°F.
Days for Germination: 5–10
Sow Indoors: 4–6 weeks before average last frost.
Sow Outdoors: 1–2 weeks before last frost or as soon as soil can be worked. Continue to sow seeds every two to three weeks after your first planting to enjoy fresh arugula all season long. If living in USDA Zone 8 or above, sow seeds throughout the fall for a winter harvest.

Vegetative: Not recommended.

Climate

This leafy green is a cold weather crop that will bolt if exposed to extreme heat, so be sure to provide some shade cover if planting in temperatures that consistently surpass 75–80°F. In most climate zones, arugula performs best when planted in the early spring or late summer just before temperatures begin to drop.

Light

Natural: Full sun. Partial shade in hot weather.

ARTIFICIAL:  Will grow best when exposed to light for at least 12–14 hours per day. Standard fluorescent or T5 bulbs will provide adequate light to help your plants thrive. Be sure to keep bulbs at least 6″ from the tops of plants to prevent burning and/or bolting.

Growing Media

Soil: A nutrient-laden soil rich in humus with a pH of between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal. Arugula is not persnickety and will tolerate a variety of soil conditions; however, make sure to provide good drainage.

SOILLESS: Will germinate well in soilless media. We recommend a mix that contains perlite and/or vermiculite for improved drainage.

Hydroponics: Thrives in hydroponics systems such as NFT. Hydroponic growing will accelerate arugula growth with a harvest ready in just 3 months.

Aeroponics: Thrives in aeroponics systems. Aeroponic growth of arugula may increase yield (and flavor) even more than hydroponics.

Care

WATER:  Requires moderate levels of water. Keeping soil moist but not soggy will help keep your plants from bolting. Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce opportunistic conditions for fungal disease.

NUTRIENTS: Amend the soil with compost high in organic matter before planting seeds.

FOLIAR: Spray leaves with a compost tea or fish emulsion to help promote growth. Stop spraying about a week before harvesting.

PRUNING: Occasionally picking younger leaves off your plants will allow them to develop larger leaves with a stronger flavor while making room for new growth.

MULCHING:  A light mulch of straw or even newspaper can reduce weed growth, which is necessary to avoid competitors trying to steal your arugula’s spotlight!

Troubleshooting

Pest(s):

  • Flea beetles
  • Garden carpet moth
  • Nematodes

Disease(s):

  • Bacterial blight
  • Downy mildew
  • White rusts

Rotation and Companion Plants

ROTATION: Avoid rotating with members of the brassica family.

Companions:Grows well with bush beans, carrots, mint, nasturtium, potato, onion thyme, rosemary, beets, and cucumber to name a few. Avoid planting with strawberries and other members of the brassica family.

Harvest and Storage

HARVEST: Pick or trim leaves when they are 2-6″ tall, keeping in mind that older leaves will have a stronger flavor than younger ones. Flowering will cause leaves to turn bitter, so harvesting is preferentially done before signs of blooming.

Storage: Store fresh leaves in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, but they are highly perishable and best used immediately after harvest. Once frozen, leaves will keep for 6 months.

Other Info

Fun fact: Dragon’s Tongue arugula possesses components in its oils that act as a natural pest and disease deterrent. How cool is that? We recommend turning your plants into the soil at the end of the growing season to help prepare your garden for next year’s crops!

Consumption

Preserve and Prepare

Preserve: Leaves can be steamed or blanched and frozen for later use, but they will lose some of their flavor.

Prepare: Usually eaten fresh with other salad greens or added whole and cooked or sautéed lightly. Arugula makes a great topping for pastas and pizzas.

Benefits

Nutritional: A low-cal vegetable, arugula is also a good source of folic acid and vitamin(s) A, B, C, and K. The leaves also have high concentrations of iron.

MEDICINAL: Valuable phyto-chemicals, which some studies claim have anti-cancer and counter carcinogenic effects, are prevalent in arugula leaves. Arugula has also been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, and improving overall heart health.

Culinary

This incredible Vegan Caesar Salad recipe with arugula is sure to knock your socks off, and with less the calories than a traditional caesar!

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