Planting and leaving

Arugula appeared in stores and in our gardens relatively recently, earlier this wild-growing herb was considered a weed. Gradually they domesticated it, realizing that it contains a lot of useful substances, and it is extremely easy to grow it. Arugula has nutty and mustard notes in its taste, and the older the plant, the more mustard.
I recommend planting early maturing varieties, then you can harvest in 3 weeks after germination. And if you sow arugula with a difference of 1-2 weeks, then fresh young greens will be on your table all summer.
This is one of the few crops that can be planted not in the sun, but in a shaded place (but not in absolute shade). The soil can be any, except for acidic (if acidic - add lime), the main thing is that it is loose. It is good if the predecessors were potatoes, pumpkin, peas or beans, but do not plant arugula after all the cabbages, turnips and radishes. The first batch of seeds can be sown at the end of April. Sow seeds in shallow grooves at a distance of 5 cm from each other, and 20-25 cm between rows. Shoots should appear in a week, and further care consists only in weeding, loosening and watering. Based on my own experience, I would recommend the Rococo and Solitaire varieties, and the Poker variety grows well not only in the garden, but also on the windowsill.

Arugula variety Solitaire — Arugula variety "Solitaire"

Arugula: possible problems

Arugula belongs to the cruciferous family, that is, it is a "relative" of cabbage and radish, therefore, they suffer from the same diseases. These can be various fungi, for example, keel. It damages the roots, the plant withers. Small brownish swellings appear on the roots, in this case, the infected plants must be eliminated, and the ground must be treated with antifungal drugs. Diseases can be avoided by following simple rules: crop rotation, careful harvesting of plant residues, timely weeding and thinning.
If you notice that someone is gnawing holes in the leaves of arugula or eating them around the edges, then most likely it is a cabbage moth or cruciferous fleas. In this case, infusions of odorous herbs - wormwood or tansy, as well as soapy water and ash will help.
It is very important to maintain constant soil moisture, as in dry weather the foliage becomes bitter and tasteless. And you need to eat young leaves, because growing up they become more rigid. So sow arugula often, but little by little.

Beneficial features

This culture is not canned, and it is stored in the refrigerator for a very short time. It is added to sauces, soups, used as a side dish, but it is closer to us in salads and sandwiches. It is better to use olive oil, lime or lemon juice as a salad dressing - they emphasize the taste of arugula.
Speaking about the benefits of the product, first of all, it should be noted the high content of vitamins and microelements: C, K, E, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium. Arugula also contains folic acid, which is very useful during pregnancy. It also stimulates metabolism and, being a dietary product, promotes weight loss by regulating the water-salt balance.

If over the summer you are so addicted to arugula that you cannot imagine life without it, and the store goods are in doubt, then you can successfully grow it on the windowsill all year round. To do this, pour expanded clay on the bottom of the container, then fertile soil (any store will do) and sow the seeds. To speed up the germination of seeds, you can cover the planting on top with glass or film.After the emergence of seedlings, we remove the film, do not forget to water and after 3 weeks we collect the first crop. As you can see, everything is very simple!