How To Grow Arugula Indoors

Arugula, also known as rocket, roquette or gargeer, is a slightly bitter, nutritious leafy green vegetable.

It’s a cool season plant that grows best outdoors in early spring or late fall but you can grow arugula indoors at any time of the year.

In this article I’ll share my best tips for growing arugula plants indoors.

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Arugula (Eruca vesicaria sativa) is part of the brassica family that also includes cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. [1]

It’s native to the Mediterranean region and has become very popular recently due to its peppery taste that gives salads and sandwiches a kick.

I like to grow a few arugula plants at a time so I can pick a few leaves for my salads as I need them.

Varieties of arugula to plant

Astro

Slowbolt

Heirloom

Planting arugula seeds

Choose a container that is at least 4 inches (10 cm) deep with drainage holes in the bottom.

Long rectangle containers are ideal for windowsills.

Arugula seeds are very small, so you need to be careful not to plant them too close together.

I recommend planting a small batch of arugula seeds every few weeks so that the plants aren’t all ready to harvest at the one time.

Scatter the seeds about 1/2 inch (1 cm) apart on the surface of the soil and cover lightly with soil.

Give the soil a gentle misting and keep the soil moist but not overly wet until the seeds germinate.

If you’ve planted too many seeds for the size of your pot you can always thin them out as they begin to germinate.

Sunlight

Arugula plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day so place the pot in front of a sunny window.

Morning sun is best for arugula because hot afternoon sun can cause the plants to bolt (go to seed) quickly, especially during the summer months.

Remember to place a tray or saucer underneath your containers so that your windowsill doesn’t get water damaged.

Harvesting arugula

Arugula leaves are usually ready to harvest in about 45 to 60 days after planting but you can start picking the tender baby leaves after about 4 weeks.

The leaves will become more bitter in taste as the plant matures.

Arugula flowers

Arugula plants produce small cream or yellow colored flowers when the plant has matured.

The flowers are also edible and make a beautiful addition to salads.

Will arugula grow back after cutting?

Arugula plants will keep growing once they’ve been cut back, so you’ll have a steady supply of salad greens.

Arugula is an annual so the plants will flower and go to seed when they’ve finished producing.

Arugula microgreens

Growing arugula microgreens is a quick way to enjoy the peppery taste that these leaves provide.

To grow arugula microgreens, fill a small container with potting soil and generously sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil.

Lightly mist and cover with another container to keep the light out.

After about 4 or 5 days remove the cover and put the container in a well-lit spot, taking care to keep the soil moist.

The microgreens will be ready to harvest in about 10 days and you can snip them off with a pair of scissors just above the soil level.

How to eat arugula

Arugula can be eaten on it’s own or combined with other greens in salads or sandwiches.

You can also lightly saute arugula with olive oil and garlic to make a nice side dish.

So there are my tips for growing arugula indoors in containers.

Growing leafy vegetables indoors means that you can pick beautiful fresh homegrown leaves for your meals when you need them.

You can’t get any fresher than that!

With the right care you can have beautiful fresh arugula leaves on hand all throughout the year.

Have you tried growing arugula indoors? Let me know in the comments below.

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How To Grow Arugula Indoors

Varieties of arugula to plant