One of the tastiest salad greens you can harvest from the garden this time of year is arugula, also known as rocket.
It is easy to grow and produces abundant foliage quickly. The peppery, bitter leaves really liven up a bowl of salad greens. Some cooks use it on pizzas and in pasta dishes. Sprightly arugula is in the Brassica family, same as cabbage, broccoli and radish. The nutritious leaves are high in vitamins C, K and calcium.
Winter through early spring is the best time to grow arugula here locally. It grows lush and thick during cold, wet weather. It is a good cut and come again green. Arugula grown during warmer, longer days tends to flower too soon, eager to set seeds. Plants become bitter and tough then.
These days you can find arugula at the nursery in six packs ready for planting. Choose plants that are small and not root bound. You can also start arugula by directly seeding into garden soil.
Arugula should be planted in full sun. Adding high nitrogen fertilizer at planting time will assure a good crop of thick foliage. It is not a deep rooting plant, so starting seeds or planting starts in large containers is a good bet. Compared to other winter-grown brassicas I find arugula to be pretty much pest free.
Terry Kramer has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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