Are you in doubt if you really want this? In the content below we have the answers to your question about how to grow arugula . So, read on and see how pleasant it can be to have your own vegetable garden at home.
Why learn to plant arugula?
Why learn how to care for arugula if there are other vegetables? The first point for you to consider is that this vegetable is rich in vitamins, such as A and C, in addition to phenolic compounds, such as lutein and zeaxanthin.
In simpler words, arugula is a vegetable that is good for our health, with interesting effects for our body. To help you make the decision to plant arugula, we have listed below some of the advantages of having it at home.
- helps to lose weight: it has few calories and still has several fibers that promote the feeling of satiety in meals;
- regulates blood sugar levels: arugula is rich in fibers that facilitate the absorption of carbohydrates by the intestine, balancing blood glucose levels, in addition to improving insulin resistance;
- protects from cardiovascular diseases: vitamin C, zeaxanthin and lutein, substances present in this vegetable, are antioxidants, that is, they are essential to reduce the damage caused by stress in the blood vessels;
- delays aging: for those who are afraid of aging, know that having large amounts of arugula available is a good idea, after all, it is rich in carotene, vitamins A and C, which fight the free radicals responsible for skin aging.
Interesting, isn’t it? Best of all, it’s easy to get started at home. Including, you don’t need a big space for this hobby. To understand better, continue reading below.
Here’s What to Consider Before Planting
Like other vegetables and greens, to learn how to care for arugula, you need to take care before and after planting. See and get ready to have your plantation at home.
Ideal temperature
To plant arugula, you need to consider whether the climate in your city is ideal. That’s because, if you don’t have a greenhouse to regulate the temperature, choosing the best season to start with is the best alternative.
Arugula is a plant that needs milder temperatures. In fact, for it to grow healthy, the most suitable temperature is between 16 and 22ºC, as a few degrees more can make the leaves smaller, without the texture for which the vegetable is so well known.
Irrigation
Remember that irrigation is also very important in how to plant arugula step by step . This is even more relevant if you live in a region with high temperatures.
If so, set up an efficient irrigation system. However, it is worth remembering that there cannot be large puddles of water, as this is an invitation to the appearance of diseases that will make the vegetable unfit for consumption.
So, when choosing where to plant arugula , see if it is a place that can easily flood and if it is away from the sun. That’s because direct contact with sunlight can burn the leaves.
Ways to plant
If you liked the idea of learning how to plant arugula, leave a note: there are two ways to start planting. The first is directly, through a flowerbed at home.
The other way is through egg trays, for example. So, in addition to reusing material, you don’t have to spend on vases. However, remember that it is important to leave a distance of 12 to 25 cm so that the roots do not “fight” during growth.
Now, if you choose direct seeding, it’s important to only use 0.2 g of seeds for them to grow healthy. If you opt for vases or trays, you can plant four to eight seeds that will germinate, on average, in four days.
When to harvest arugula?
Looking forward to the first arugula harvest? Know that it is possible to do this only after 50 days after planting. Even if everything goes well, it is possible to regrow.
In other words, you can do a second harvest with the same vegetable . In addition, the results are faster than the first time (35 days), since the root is more mature.
Watch out for pests!
If you have problems with pests, don’t worry, it’s normal! However, instead of using some pesticide, what do you think about investing in a more organic solution? We have a recipe tip for you, check it out.
- 1 handful of tomato leaves;
- 2 girl finger peppers;
- 2 garlic cloves.