Donโt underestimate Arugulaโthis spicy little leaf is a powerhouse of nutrients and one of the easiest greens to grow! ๐ฟ Fast-growing, cold-tolerant, and rich in antioxidants, arugula supports liver detox and immune function. Learn how to grow it in containers or beds, harvest it multiple times, and use it in healing recipes. A must-have for beginner gardeners and natural remedy enthusiasts alike. #arugula #healingplants #naturalremedies #growyourown #alliesleaflab
when you think fast growing leafy greens and beginner friendly you’re going to want to think arugula And in this video we’re going over how to grow harvest and monetize this spicy little plant So if you’re new here welcome Welcome back I’m here I’m a herbalist and permaculture designer living in Asheville North Carolina on ancestral Cherokee land And if you are a returning viewer welcome back I am so happy to see you Thank you so much for joining me Let’s dive right in Why grow arugula arugula has got it all from its dark green almost black leaves packed full of vitamin K and chlorophyll to its toxifying sulfur compounds Arugula or rocket as some people call it supports liver health supports your immune system and will be ready for harvest in as little as 30 to 40 days That’s 30 to 40 days from seed to plate There’s not a lot of plants that can say that And arugula does best in cooler seasons and partial sun So even in our zone 6b gardens it’s something we can grow year round Plus it’s delicious Arugula is known for its peppery bite when grown in the garden You may have actually noticed this already You may have grown it in the past and kind of had that experience And as it matures it becomes bitter but it’s that peppery bite that makes it so desirable in our salads and our pesto sauces ETC What’s more it’s really easy to grow and very rewarding Just direct seed it into nice shallow rows and keep the soil moist Then just allow the magic to happen In fact let’s take a moment and watch the time lapse that I shot of my arugula patch earlier this season The first video I took was on May 12th These seeds were started directly in the ground here at the hidden herb apothecary They sprouted around day 4 We had a little bit of a cold snap after that which stunted their growth for a day or two But once the weather warmed back up watch what happened From May through June within about 25 days it went from these tiny seedlings to basically ready for harvest Now that’s fast Once your arugula reaches maturity you’ll notice that it starts to bolt or flower It sends up this tall stock and then eventually produces little yellow flowers You may be thinking well now it’s gone to seed It’s done But in actuality those flowers and seeds are just the beginning of the end for the life cycle of arugula And while the leaves do become more bitter as it gets older it will continue to produce leaves although the rate of production will slow down quite a bit And don’t forget it’s totally fine to harvest those outer leaves as needed And in fact I would encourage you to do that so that it doesn’t get too big and overgrown And then you’re rele And that’s exactly what happened with mine You’ll see my arugula got way too big for the container it was planted in It also got so large that the outside leaves wilted because there wasn’t enough room in the pot for all that growth This is why regular maintenance pruning of those outside leaves encouraged busher growth and plenty of leaves for you to enjoy Now if you are container gardening you’ll want to make sure that you have adequate drainage holes in your pots as well This prevents root rot and keeps your plant healthy Speaking of container gardening one of the most fun things about growing arugula in containers is being able to stack them I like to use vertical planters like this for crops like arugula because they take up less footprint in the garden and allow for more growing area and they’re also just fun and add whimsy When it comes to container gardening though arugula does prefer a larger pot If you go with anything smaller than 5 gall you’ll need to water it more frequently However if you have the space for it it grows really nicely in large containers When it comes to planting your arugula if you’re planting in beds I would recommend planting it in blocks rather than rows This allows you to harvest from the outer leaves as it grows and kind of takes away that motivation to weed It’s much more clear where your crop ends and begins Now if you’ve ever tried to grow arugula before you know it has a tendency to self- sew or drop seeds all over the place This is both a blessing and a curse It’s definitely convenient to come out into your garden and see new sprouts of arugula here and there but it is also kind of inconvenient to weed out those extra seedlings that are where you wanted them to pop up So if you do want to avoid that try interplanting your arugula with something like carrots The rough leaves of the arugula will prevent the carrots from bolting or flowering too quickly And the long tap rid of the carrots helps suppress those pesky weeds that like to grow alongside the arugula The next question is when should you harvest your arugula well as I mentioned arugula can be snipped as it grows meaning that you can just snip off the outer leaves as you need them This works particularly well in larger containers or in the ground but if you’re working with a smaller pot you’re going to want to wait until you have enough leaves to make it worth cutting the entire plant back above the crown This ensures that you’re getting the most yield possible from your plant Another thing to consider is whether or not you re going to wash and immediately use the leaves or store them for later Unwashed leaves last longer which means that you can be a little bit more liberal about when you cut them They’ll last a few days in a breathable bag in the refrigerator As soon as those leaves get wet though especially if you’ve washed them it’s time to eat them Otherwise they will spoil quickly So if you’re wondering how to store your arugula you have a couple of options My favorite way to store arugula is to simply leave it as is and store it in a breathable bag in the refrigerator I usually keep it in the fridge with the door closed not in the crisper drawer The crisper drawer tends to get a little bit too wet for my liking and sometimes the humidity can cause mold to start forming on the arugula Just make sure to check it every day or two to ensure that it is still fresh and crisp If you are concerned about mold you can lay the leaves out on a clean towel to dry for an hour or two before storing But honestly I find that this isn’t often necessary Okay let’s talk about selling your arugula harvest You can bundle your arugula along with other micro greens and baby greens to sell at farmers markets or roadside stands Sewing pre-washed salad mixes is another great option especially since arugula is such a high seller in those types of mixes And I’ve even created little detox kits with pre-washed arugula spinach kale cilantro parsley recipes for detox teas and tonics and just information on how to use those herbs and the recipes to cleanse the liver I included information on the liver’s role in detoxification and just ways that you could support your body as natural detoxification processes with these ingredients These were such a hit at the Asheville Herbal Conference this past April that I knew I had to include this in my offerings here at the apothecary So these will be available on my website very soon Lastly let’s talk culinary and medicinal uses Arugula is delicious raw in salads pestos smoothies etc Its spicy flavor pairs really nicely with citrus making it a great addition to a liver cleansing salad or spring detox smoothie It can also be added to soups or sandwiches for a little peppery kick Before we go let’s look at some fun facts about arugula Did you know that Romans used arugula as an aphrodesiac while there’s no evidence to support this claim the tradition continues in modern Italian cuisine where arugula is often paired with cured meats and parmesan cheese Arugula’s name is thought to derive from the Italian word richetta meaning little rocket perhaps in reference to the way the leaves curl like a rocket ship And if you haven’t already subscribed please do Also if you enjoyed this video please give us a like Your support means the world to me and helps us to continue to make content like this Thank you so much for joining me and I’ll see you next time