How to plant arugula

Arugula Is a popular plant that belongs to the extensive cabbage family. The herbaceous plant has a distinctly spicy flavor and is used to make many culinary dishes even richer and, most importantly, very aromatic. Due to the fact that arugula contains a very large amount of trace elements and vitamins, this annual is especially popular all over the world and, of course, Russia is no exception. In this article, we will take a closer look at the popular varieties of arugula, and also talk in detail about what is the advantage of this plant, how to properly plant it in open ground. Grooming is also the part that we will talk about in this article, as it is very important in the framework of growing this delicious herb. It is from the care of the gardeners that the appearance of the herb depends, as well as what taste and aroma it will exude, how valuable it will be in modern cooking.

Popular varieties of arugula

Arugula is a cultivated plant. It is quite compact, depending on the variety, the height of the arugula can vary from thirty to sixty centimeters. In this case, the stem is branched, slightly pubescent. Depending on what type and variety the arugula belongs to, the leaves can also be different in their external characteristics. They can be very large and fleshy, they can be medium if we are talking about indicators of leaf size and its properties. There are also very thin and delicate leaves, which at the same time exude an incredible aroma, which makes arugula no less valuable.

There is also a wild arugula - its leaves are narrow and oblong, and in general this type of arugula does not differ in special appearance or taste characteristics, although it is sometimes harvested to create seasonings or valuable flavors. Arugula is grown mainly in the south, and it also takes root well in the middle lane. In general, if a plant is given sufficient care and attention, it can grow in any region, even where the climate is not mild and stable.

Arugula blooms from May to July. When blooming, small flowers appear, which are painted in white or yellow. Moreover, if you look closely, you can see thin purple streaks on the flowers. The plant can also produce fruits. Usually these are xiphoid pods, inside which seeds are found, colored in a light brown color. Seeds can be harvested, after some manipulations at the stated time, they can also be planted in open ground and get new arugula bushes.

Of course, when choosing a variety of arugula, the gardener mainly focuses on the varieties. Today there are many early ripening varieties, their growing season is no more than 20-25 days, but, as a rule, it takes about three weeks on average to get the finished result.

There are also several mid-season arugula varieties that also build up their green mass, but they take a little longer to do this - about one to one and a half months. It all depends on the conditions in which the arugula grows, as well as on how the gardener himself takes care of the plant in order to get an abundant and, importantly, tasty green mass.

In order for the arugula, which is rich in vitamins and microelements, to please the gardener for a long time, it is worth planting the arugula not all at once, but at intervals. There should be about 10-14 days between plantings.There are several popular varieties that have proven themselves and proven themselves best. That is why gardeners often choose these particular plants, since they have the best and most beneficial characteristics, which should be paid close attention to.

Let's consider the varieties of arugula in more detail.:

— poker - This is a mid-early variety of arugula. After about 40 days, the first crop can be harvested, which can be eaten. This plant is tall - usually reaches a height of sixty to seventy centimeters, and the diameter of the rosette is no more than twenty centimeters. The variety has its own peculiarity. It consists in the fact that the leaves have a pronounced mustard-olive taste, which in general is not at all typical for arugula. Poker is great for sowing at various times, including winter sowing, it tolerates temperature changes normally, and is not too whimsical when it comes to care measures

— Sicily - mid-season variety, which is distinguished by the fact that it tolerates frost and low temperatures perfectly. The growing season lasts from 28 to 30 days. The greens have a very bright green tint, the taste is closer to the nutty one. The bush reaches a height of sixty centimeters, it can perfectly tolerate even extreme temperature changes, while completely not losing its external and taste qualities and characteristics. It is worth remembering that if the plant is in an arid climate, then it may shoot arrows, and this is not the surest sign

— rococo - salad culture, which grows quickly enough. It has a bright spicy aroma, while the arugula itself has a spicy taste that is not bitter or sharp at all. The variety differs in that very wide leaves of a rich dark color are obtained on the bush. The height of the outlet is not at all large - no more than twenty centimeters. At the same time, the variety is distinguished by a high level of productivity and the fact that it can withstand cold weather perfectly. Harvesting can be done within a month after the very first shoots have emerged. At the same time, if you give the plant a sufficient amount of attention and take care of it, then as a result, the crop can be harvested not in a month, but in three weeks, and this is undoubtedly an excellent indicator

— corsica - Arugula varieties belong to the mid-season group. Greens can be ready to eat in about one month after the very first plantings have appeared. The leaves are very smooth, dark green juicy color. The height of the bushes varies from 60 to 65 centimeters, while, if we talk about the taste, then this particular variety has a pronounced nutty-mustard aftertaste. The spicy aroma is the hallmark of the arugula cultivar Corsica. If there is a very severe drought, then the bushes begin to shoot arrows, and this suggests that they may lose their taste characteristics, become very bland, almost tasteless

— koltivata Is a variety that was bred by Dutch breeders. This is a salad arugula, bushes can produce a very large number of delicious leaves. In this case, the plant belongs to the early maturing group, the leaves can be collected and eaten about 14 days after the very first shoots have appeared. The bush is distinguished by its dwarfism, compactness, its maximum height reaches 25 centimeters, no more. The leaves are very large, rounded. Flowers that appear during flowering can have a delicate creamy shade.

— Spartacus - also another early ripening variety of arugula, which was bred by breeders specifically in order to grow directly in the open field. The plants are undersized - up to 25 centimeters, the leaves are smooth, oval in shape. At the same time, the taste is quite spicy and pleasant, arugula is added to prepare fresh salads, and the variety itself does not require undue attention.

— curiosity - the crop grows very quickly, the growing season varies from 14 to 20 days from the moment the very first shoots appear. The leaves are smooth, fleshy, very juicy and dense. The height of the bush reaches 20-22 centimeters, and the taste of the leaves, especially the young ones, is special. It is quite spicy and savory, great for adding arugula to salads or eating fresh. At the same time, if we talk about the characteristics of the variety, then in general it is a rather unpretentious plant that does not require special attention or care.

Planting rules and care for arugula

Planting seeds in open ground is carried out for a rather long period - from April to August. The plant is quite thermophilic. If the gardener has decided to plant in the spring, then it is necessary to wait for the moment when the soil warms up enough, and also, in general, when the temperature is above ten degrees, this is really very important. If conditions and temperatures are favorable enough, sprouts will begin to sprout around the fifth day after the seeds have been planted in the soil. Even if return colds are noted, then, in principle, they will not harm the plant in any way, but it is still worth monitoring this so that the plant does not experience too much stress.

If arugula is planted in August, then it is better to wait until the heat and severe drought have subsided. This will allow the plant to adapt faster, but at the same time, gardeners who have experience in planting such crops emphasize that if you plant greens in the spring, they will turn out to be more fragrant and crisp. If we consider the arugula, which was planted in the fall, then it really turns out to be more voluminous, but at the same time it is not so juicy, and there may be some lack of it in the taste characteristics. One way or another, the gardener himself can determine the time of planting the plant, he himself can regulate what taste he wants to get, focusing on the specifics and characteristics of the selected variety.

It is worth remembering that arugula does not react in the best way to bright sunlight, and therefore it is best to plant the plant in partial shade. Ideally, an area is suitable where it will be sunny enough in the first half of the day, but in the afternoon there will be partial shade. Then the plant will not overheat, the risk of the leaves getting burned is reduced, or the soil will dry out unnecessarily. Arugula is not particularly demanding on the composition of the soil. One way or another, experienced gardeners emphasize that arugula grows best in areas where the soil is rather loose, light and at the same time well fertilized with mineral components. Arugula feels worst of all in acidic soils, so if the soil is only like this, then initially, during its preparation, it is necessary to deoxidize it, and then plant the arugula there.

In order to get the first shoots after 5-7 days, it is necessary to carefully select the seed material, and also prepare it in advance. Of course, ideally, it is better to immediately purchase seeds in special stores, since the seeds are already processed there, and therefore you do not need to perform additional manipulations with them. You can also buy seeds from your hands, but after that they must be very carefully examined and also disinfected. You can pickle seeds with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, since this tool is considered one of the most versatile, and plants will feel as comfortable as possible in it. In this case, it is worth observing several basic rules:

- hydrogen peroxide should warm up to about forty degrees, no more

- the solution should be poured over the seeds for a short time - for a maximum of 10 minutes. If you pour it for a longer period, then this can lead to the fact that the seeds will lose their ability to germinate, and in this case they will simply die.

- the solution is then gradually drained

- the seeds are dried with napkins and gauze until they are completely dry. It should be borne in mind that only the upper part should dry out - the shell, but the inner one should not dry out so much, otherwise the plants will not sprout.

It should also be borne in mind that the selection of planting material should be treated with all attention and responsibility. If suddenly the seeds do not inspire any confidence, they seem too strange, deformed, or it just seems to the gardener that they are not quite in a suitable state, then you can try to germinate them just before sowing. To do this, initially the seeds are soaked for about one and a half or two hours in a solution called epin, then the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth, gauze is best for this, and then the seeds are wrapped in the same gauze. The main thing is that the gauze is moist enough, but not wet, otherwise the seeds will not germinate, but will slowly start to rot. Later, the package is placed in a container and covered with a lid in order to create a greenhouse effect inside the container. A DIY greenhouse is placed in a warm place, where it is located for a short time.

If you use this method, you can germinate seeds, and after 48 hours the very first shoots will appear, which, of course, is a very significant indicator. In this case, it is also worth paying special attention to the preparation of the soil. To do this, from the fall, the soil is well dug, weeds and traces of plants that were previously on the site are removed. A certain amount of fertilizer is applied to the soil, in particular, it is necessary to add compost and potassium, superphosphate, since they allow the soil to be saturated with everything necessary so that it becomes as fertile as possible. Also, the soil should be well moistened, so the area is watered with settled warm water. In the spring, urea is introduced into the soil, and if the soil is characterized by an increased level of acidity, then it is necessary to apply lime directly to the site in certain proportions, it all depends only on the size of the site. Just before the arugula is planted on the site, it must be loosened well, and then the soil must be leveled.

The planting pattern for arugula does not differ at all from the pattern according to which gardeners usually plant other herbs and greens. The following algorithm must be followed:

- on a site that has been prepared in advance, it is necessary to make several furrows. Their depth should be no more than one and a half centimeters, and then the grooves are spilled with water. The gardener must use warm, settled water.

- it is worth observing a certain distance between the rows, usually gardeners leave a distance of 30 centimeters, this is quite enough for the plant to develop normally and fully

- the seeds are also sown at a distance from each other. Usually this distance is about five centimeters. This will be the most favorable distance, and the plant will feel great.

- after that, it is necessary to lightly sprinkle the garden with the same soil, after which the earth is slightly compacted, but at the same time it is impossible to clot it too much

- there is also a chance that there will be return frosts, but at the same time the gardener can protect the plant from them. To do this, it will be quite enough to cover the plantings with film or containers at night, but at the same time, with the onset of the morning, it is worth removing the shelter so that the plant is ventilated and feels as comfortable as possible.

The cultivation of arugula is also taken into account in connection with what crops grew in the area before it. It is usually best to grow arugula after crops such as peas and pumpkin, potatoes, or tomatoes. At the same time, greens should not be planted where radishes or turnips, horseradish grew before, since they can suck out all the useful components from the soil, and it is already becoming depleted.At the same time, arugula, as a whole, is a completely non-capricious and unpretentious plant, but this can all be achieved if the gardener carries out competent planting and care of the plant, which will include regular watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds, which can be very harmful to the plant.

After the very first shoots have appeared, it is best to make the planting a little sparse, that is, thin out the arugula varieties. When 2-3-leafed plants appear, it is best to remove excess sprouts altogether. Moreover, there should be a distance of at least five and no more than seven centimeters between landings. The distance between future plants after the second thinning should be at least 15 centimeters.

For growing arugula, a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees is excellent, as it is optimal. In general, the plant is resistant to temperature extremes, but it is worth remembering that if the temperature drops too much, this can negatively affect the plant: it will grow much slower than it should. With the onset of prolonged frosts, it is also worthwhile to additionally secure arugula varieties. For this, they use a shelter made of polyethylene, plastic or any other material that can ideally be suitable for protecting the plant and sheltering it from such negative manifestations of temperatures.

If the temperature rises too much, then this also may not have a very good effect on the plant. Especially if it is at a certain vegetative stage. Bushes can bloom earlier than the set time, especially those that are unstable and may undergo excessive arrowing. As you know, if a plant shoots arrows, it means that its taste characteristics may decrease to a noticeable degree. Naturally, such a plant will no longer be so tasty and attractive, it loses its value as an additive or as an ingredient in salads. The leaves can lose their juiciness and crunchiness, become very rough, almost tasteless.

A moisture-loving plant, arugula is very fond of watering and requires it almost regularly. The soil, which is located in the near-stem circle, must always be moistened, but it is worth remembering that stagnant moisture will lead to the fact that the root system can rot, fungal infections will develop, and it is almost impossible or too difficult to save the plant after them. Also, the plant does not tolerate waterlogging at all. So, for example, if arugula grows in a region where high temperatures are predominantly recorded, excessive drought is observed, then it needs almost daily watering. If arugula grows in an area with a rather cool climate and frequent precipitation, then in this case it is necessary to water much less often.

In order for the plant to be easier to saturate with oxygen, it must be constantly weeded, rid the trunk circle of various weeds. By the way, the grass should be removed also because it can cause the spread of various diseases, which will have a very negative effect on the plant. Weeds are removed along with the root system, otherwise there is an increased risk that they will sprout up again. In addition to weeding, it is also necessary to loosen the ground. In this case, the plant will receive a sufficient amount of oxygen directly through the soil. In general, aerating the soil reduces the risk of fungal diseases.

The opinion of the gardeners on the issue of feeding was notably divided. Someone says that the plant can absorb nitrates and other substances, which affects its beneficial properties. Someone, on the contrary, claims that arugula varieties need feeding, because thanks to them it is possible to improve the plant and its taste characteristics, and at the same time additives and feeding do not in any way affect the beneficial characteristics of the plant. So every gardener has the right to decide for himself whether he wants to feed the plant, whether it needs it or not. However, chicken droppings can be added if necessary.

At the same time, arugula is not the most resistant plant. She can be exposed to some dangerous fungal infections.Most often, arugula varieties suffer from fusarium, peronosporosis, and verticillary wilt. In general, you can fight them with the help of insecticides or some folk remedies, which have an excellent effect on the general condition of the plant, but at the same time are completely safe. One way or another, today arugula remains one of the most popular herbs used as a salad additive. The bushes have an attractive taste and aroma, and have incredibly useful properties. We can say that they also grow very quickly, and sometimes arugula varieties can be harvested fresh throughout the year. In addition, this plant is designed not only to grow outdoors, but also on the windowsill or on the gardener's balcony. The plant has a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals, it is completely safe for both children and adults.