fractures

Arugula how to grow in the garden and windowsill. Arugula: growing from seeds at home and in the open field. How to get rid of pests and diseases of lettuce

Currently, among other vegetable salad crops, a Mediterranean delicacy is beginning to occupy a firm place - leaf vegetable salad arugula (arugula, arugula). For a long time it was unusual for Russian cuisine. If in Italy back in the first century, arugula was considered an indispensable vegetable on the dinner table, using it as a spice, then in Russia it was an annoying caterpillar weed and only in the 20-21st century began to take its rightful place as a salad plant in the kitchen menus of our regions.

At present, in Russia, the “Italian” is worthily appreciated as a food culture. It does not require special care, grows freely in places with a rather harsh climate.

Arugula can be grown:

in open ground by sowing seeds and through seedlings;
in the greenhouse by direct sowing of seeds and through seedlings;
at home on kitchen windowsills.

I invite you, dear readers, to get acquainted with the methods of growing arugula, its features and varieties for growing in summer cottages and vegetable gardens.

Content:

Arugula in the plant system

In the wild in the Russian Federation, arugula is found in the European part, in the foothills of Dagestan and the Caucasus. Under natural conditions, she prefers dry, light, loose soils.

In different countries of the world it is called differently: rocket salad, rauca, rocca, rocket, arugula, rugola, rugetta, gulyavnik, indau, eruka. In the Russian Federation, they are more often called caterpillar, sowing indau, and in some regions - wild mustard. Arugula in the plant system belongs to the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). The international scientific name is Eruca sativa.

Arugula is a very interesting plant. Under the market name "Arugula" there are two types of lettuce:

garden arugula (Eruca sativa), botanical name indau sowing, or sowing caterpillar, or sowing eruka ( Eruca vesicaria).
wild arugula, or botanical name two-row thin-leaved (Diplotaxis tenuifolia).

Both types have an attractive taste, giving dishes a delicate aroma of a nutty-mustard hue. At a cursory examination, they are very similar, but they are still two different plants.

Species differences

Varieties of garden arugula, or indau - annual plants. A distinctive feature is the lyre-shaped lower leaves with a serrated, sometimes smooth edge. Flowers in a rare long raceme of light colors (white, cream, yellowish, with purple streaks). The leaves are characterized by a spicy-spicy taste with a mustard note. Seeds in pods are arranged in 2 rows, similar to mustard seeds.

Wild arugula, or thin-leaved arugula, is a perennial. Tall, up to 70 cm plants are prone to lodging. A distinctive feature is the shape of the leaf blade of the lower rosette leaves: narrow, long, strongly dissected. The taste of the leaves is sharper than that of annual indau. The flowers are also located in long, loose racemes, but the color of the corolla petals is yellow, turning into orange. Seeds in pods are very small (like poppies), arranged in 2 rows. Fans of spicy dishes prefer varieties of wild arugula.

In the Russian Federation, garden arugula, or indau sowing (erica sowing), is more common. Breeders have bred more than 30 varieties suitable for cultivation in different regions of Russia.

Arugula wild, or Two-leaved thin-leaved (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). © Rasbak

Botanical description of arugula

Indau (arugula) - a plant of 40-60 cm with a straight branched, slightly pubescent stem. Rod root. The leaves are basal, forming a rosette. They are slightly thickened, covered with hairs. They have a spicy-pepper taste with a residual mustard aftertaste. The shape of the leaf blade depends on the variety and type of arugula. The lower leaves are elongated, obovate with a rugged leaf blade, dissected into lyre-shaped or serrated lobes on long petioles. The edges of the leaf blade can be serrated, with a smooth or wavy edge.

Arugula blooms in May-July. The inflorescence is a long, loose raceme. The flowers are small, different shades: white, white-pink, yellowish. Corolla petals with purple veins. They are ovoid in shape. The fruit is an oblong pod on thickened short legs. Inside the pod, seeds arranged in 2 rows are compressed oval or rounded oval. Light brown, light brown in color. Reminds me of mustard seeds.

Ways to grow arugula

Arugula can be grown:

in the open field by seeds and seedlings in the southern regions and regions with a temperate climate;
in regions with a cold short warm period - through seedlings in open ground or in greenhouse conditions;
in cold regions - in heated greenhouses in bed culture, on hydroponic solutions;
year-round in a pot culture at home.

Growing arugula in open ground

Location selection

Arugula needs bright but diffused lighting. In the cultural rotation, her beds are protected from the sun by tall plants (corn, beans, climbing on a trellis) or areas with partial light shading are used. In open areas at high solar temperatures, arugula passes to fast shooting, forms rough leaf blades with wormwood bitterness.

Soil requirement

For arugula, slightly alkaline and neutral fertile soils, water and breathable, are optimal. Arugula dies on acidic soils, and established bushes form poor-quality greens.

If the soils have been fertilized for a long time only with mineral fats, then lime must be added before the autumn digging to remove the accumulated acidity and provide the plants with calcium.

If there was autumn liming, then in the spring before sowing, 35-40 g / sq. m. Kemira or nitrophoska. If in previous years the soil was sufficiently fertilized, green manure was used, then it is not necessary to apply fertilizers for arugula when preparing the soil.

If liming was not carried out, and the soil needs fertilizer, then it can be applied for digging per sq. m area of 30-40 g of nitrophoska or urea.

During the growing season, it is better not to fertilize arugula, as the leaves accumulate nitrites and nitrates, which adversely affect human health. If there is a developmental delay, foliar top dressing with microelements can be carried out (you can buy them at a flower shop).

Location in cultural circulation

The best predecessors are peas and other legumes, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots. After arugula, cruciferous plants should not be planted and sown for 3-5 years due to possible common diseases and pests.

Sowing period

Arugula belongs to the cold-resistant, early ripening spicy vegetable crops.

Seeds begin to be sown when the soil warms up in a 7-10 cm layer to + 6 ... + 10 ºС. Since arugula is an early crop, it is possible to carry out several sowings with a gap of 1.5-2.0 weeks in March-April and the entire first half of the summer, repeating a couple of sowings in late August-early September. In warm regions, autumn crops can be harvested from September to November.

Arugula can be sown with winter sowing and get an extra early harvest. Sowing is carried out in the regions with the onset of a stable zero temperature without long autumn thaws, which can lead to swelling and germination of seeds (then the future crop will die). Sowing is carried out approximately in October-November, and in the south - in the February windows.

Agrotechnics of sowing seeds

Sowing seeds of arugula is carried out in an ordinary way with row spacing of 30-45 cm. Seeds are buried by 2-4 cm, depending on the type of soil. A feature of the culture is the extended period of seed germination. Therefore, with the advent of seedlings, several thinnings are carried out, leaving the strongest in the row every 8-10 cm. Thickened plantings form small leaves with coarse veins. Arugula seeds begin to germinate at an air temperature of +9 ... +10 ºС, but +17 ... +23 ºС is optimal for obtaining quick and friendly shoots.

Caring for arugula outdoors

Protecting plants from pests and diseases

Arugula belongs to early ripening crops. The harvest of leaves ready for cutting is formed within 1-1.5 months. Therefore, no chemical treatments of plants can be carried out.

Changing the color of the leaves, the appearance of various spots, wilting of plants indicate a disease or damage to them by pests. The main method of struggle is preventive and preventive:

high-quality soil preparation;
observance of cultural circulation;
weed control;
use of healthy seeds prepared for sowing.

When affected by fungal and bacterial diseases, the use of biofungicides (phytosporin-M, gamair, alirin, etc.) is allowed. Processing of plants is carried out according to the recommendations. In case of severe damage, it is better to remove diseased plants from the garden and destroy it, and shed this place with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The green mass of arugula is attractive to cabbage caterpillars, cabbage moths and other lepidoptera, cruciferous fleas, slugs. When planting seedlings in the ground or when seedlings appear, some gardeners advise covering the plants with a cover material (but not a film) to protect against cabbage fleas. Sprinkling of soil and plants with tobacco dust, finely sifted ash is effective. Treatment with solutions of herbs, especially wormwood, is undesirable. Remaining on the leaves, the solution gives them an undesirable aftertaste.

During the growing season, arugula, slugs and caterpillars, with their limited number, are harvested by hand. You can use the treatment of plants with bioinsecticides (bitoxibacillin-BTU-r, aversectin-C, planriz, tabazol, etc.) according to the recommendations.

Watering

Watering is very important for the formation of a quality crop. The lack of water coarsens the leaves, gives them bitterness. Watering is carried out along the aisles, with low pressure, so that the soil with splashes of water does not pollute the arugula leaves. Water every 2 days, preferably in the morning before 9-10 am or after 4 pm. With sparse watering (1-2 times a week with large norms), spicy lettuce leaves become coarse, acquire a wormwood-bitter flavor and are not suitable for use in cooking.

General care

The soil under the arugula by constant loosening is loose and clean from weeds. After watering, the soil is mulched, which allows not only to retain moisture, but also to protect the leaves from soil contamination during subsequent watering. Mulch with fine humus and cut grass. The layer of mulch is gradually increased - from 2 to 3 cm or more. Mulch under the bushes is laid out so that the leaves do not lie on bare ground.

Harvest and storage of arugula

The first cut of arugula leaves is carried out with a leaf length of 8-12 cm. Subsequent ones - as needed. At the final harvest of green mass, the crop is stored in a refrigerator, a cold cellar, but not more than 7-8 days. Cut leaves are washed, shaken off excess moisture, wrapped in thick paper or film and placed on the bottom shelf.

Arugula garden, or Eruka sowing (Eruca vesicaria). © Michal

Growing arugula in a greenhouse

In greenhouse conditions, arugula can be grown year-round by sowing seeds or through seedlings.

Soil preparation

If the soil in the greenhouse has not been replaced for a long time, all the necessary work is carried out to decontaminate and populate with living microbial material (Baikal EM-1, Ekomik fruitful, etc.), green manure can be sown and, at a biomass height of 10 cm, planted in the soil by digging into a layer of 5-7 cm .

If the soil is systematically renewed, digging is carried out, if necessary, Kemira or nitrophoska is added at the rate of 15-25 g / sq. m area.

After digging, soil clods are crushed and form beds. After a few days, sowing is carried out.

Sowing seeds

Moisten the soil before sowing. After 15-25 cm, rows are cut with a depth of 1.0 cm.
Seeds are sown to a depth of 0.5-1.0 cm. Sprinkle dry soil on top. Sowing is covered with a film.

Care

With the advent of the first shoots of arugula, the film is removed. The soil is kept loose, without weeds, does not allow the formation of a dry soil crust. Watering is carried out often (after 2 days), but in small portions (without flooding). The lighting is diffused but bright. The first cutting of greens is carried out with the growth of leaves up to 8-10 cm. The next ones - if necessary.

To use fresh arugula for a long time, sowing seeds can be repeated after 10-15 days until mid-April.

Growing arugula at home

At home, this useful crop can be grown all year round, providing the family with fresh herbs, especially needed in early spring.

Growing spicy lettuce is best on kitchen windowsills. Sometimes pots of arugula serve as natural landscaping for housing. Culture is placed on window sills and stands and in other rooms. Spicy salad loves bright lighting. With a lack of light, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps is necessary. The optimum ambient temperature in the room is +18…+20 ºС. At higher temperatures, airing is carried out (without drafts), the surrounding space is moistened from a fine spray gun.

Sowing and care

For sowing arugula, the soil can be purchased at the store (soil "for vegetables") or prepared independently using soddy soil, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. A self-prepared substrate must be disinfected by one of the generally accepted methods.

Prepared or purchased soil fill small boxes or containers. Moisten the soil and carry out row sowing with row spacing of 6-8 cm to a depth of 0.5-1.0 cm. Cover the sowing with a film. After 4-6 days, with the emergence of arugula seedlings, the film is removed and the box is placed on the windowsill or in another fairly bright place.

Dry air is humidified through a fine atomizer. The soil is constantly kept moist.

When 2 true leaves are formed, young seedlings of arugula are transplanted / dive 1-2 plants into a separate container or into boxes with free placement of seedlings.

During the growing season of plants, do not allow the formation of inflorescences. They are cut off immediately. With the advent of flowers, the leaves of this culture coarsen, acquire an unpleasant bitterness. A box with soil from under seedlings can be used for the next sowing of seeds. Re-sowing is carried out after two weeks.

Growing seedlings of arugula

Above, we examined the cultivation of arugula from seeds in different conditions: open ground, in a greenhouse and at home. Arugula bushes occupy a fairly large area and, in order to increase the yield, it can be grown through seedlings. Growing through seedlings is more cost-effective:

the plant forms the largest yield;
the seedling method saves the time spent on obtaining a crop when planting in a permanent place.

It is especially profitable to grow arugula through seedlings in regions with a late onset of stable warm weather (you can lay up to three revolutions with a full harvest).

Depending on the region, arugula seeds for seedlings are sown in late February - early March and continue sowing with a two-week break until mid-April.

Soil preparation, sowing seeds and conditions for obtaining seedlings are the same as when growing arugula at home. Disinfection of arugula seeds is necessary when using self-collected or purchased from private traders on the market.

After the formation of 2 true leaves, the seedlings dive:

in boxes with a planting pattern (20-25 cm - row spacing, 10-15 cm - in a row);
in separate peat cups, which are planted with the plant in a permanent place;
in separate pots or other containers for 1-2 plants.

The age of arugula seedlings for planting in a permanent place is 25-28 days. The soil should warm up to a temperature of + 6 ... + 10 ºС. Air temperature from +14-16 ºС to +18-20 ºС.

Approximately in warm regions, seedlings in separate peat cups (there are fewer injuries during planting) are planted in the ground at the end of March - the first decade of April (depending on the onset of constant spring warming).

In cold regions, seedlings of arugula are laid in the first decade of April, and planting in the ground is carried out from the second half of May.

Before planting arugula in a permanent place, hardening of seedlings is necessary. Seedlings are usually planted in the greenhouse in the evening, in open ground - in the afternoon, which helps the plants to better adapt to new environmental conditions.

Varieties of arugula for country cultivation

In garden culture, 2 types of arugula are grown:

cultural (indau sowing, sowing eruka);
wild, known as wild rocket, thin-leaved double row.

Arugula is an annual plant, but there are also biennial crops among garden varieties. The roots left in the soil after the last cut for the winter under shelters form an ultra-early crop of vitamin greens in early spring. For country conditions, the early and medium varieties of annual arugula, presented below, are more suitable.

lettuce variety Arugula Olivetta. Early, from germination to green harvesting 20-25 days. Height 20-25 cm. The leaves are lyre-shaped, the general shape is oval. Juicy, rich green, fragrant. The taste is mustard-nutty with a bitter aftertaste. The nutty aroma is pronounced, which is very much appreciated by culinary specialists.

lettuce variety Arugula Spartacus. Early, from germination to green harvesting 24-28 days. Plant height up to 70 cm, leaf rosette - 18-22 cm. Leaf rosette semi-raised. The leaves are lyre-shaped, smooth. Greens are spicy. Cream flowers. Diet variety.

lettuce variety Arugula Victoria. Mid-season, from germination to green harvesting 28-32 days. Bushes up to 70 cm, high foliage, rich in vitamins. The socket is semi-raised. The leaves are smooth, lyre-shaped, light green. Cream flowers. Diet variety.

lettuce variety Arugula Poker. Early maturing, from germination to harvesting greenery 20-25 days. Plants branched, 40-80 cm tall. The leaves are dissected, large, rosette up to 20 cm tall, have a sweetish mustard flavor. Forms up to 12 cut leaves in the greenhouse, up to 28 in the open field. Variety for conveyor summer cultivation.

lettuce variety Arugula Lybid. Ultra-early, from germination to green harvesting 8-20 days. The first leaves without dissection of the leaf blade, moderately green. The variety is resistant to shooting. Depending on the region, it can be grown in open and closed ground.

lettuce variety Arugula Sicily. Mid-season, from germination to harvesting greenery 27-30 days. Bushes up to 60 cm tall. The leaves are lyre-shaped, pinnately dissected with a nutty taste and aroma. The flowers are yellow-white with purple veins. In the heat and in violation of watering, the variety quickly shoots.

lettuce variety Arugula Cupid's Arrows. Medium-late, from germination to green harvesting 35-38 days. Bushes up to 20-30 cm with narrow long carved leaves. Flowers yellow. A distinctive feature - the inflorescences look like dandelions.

lettuce variety arugula rococo. Early ripe, from germination to harvesting greenery 20-25 days. Forms a high (up to 18 cm) rosette of wide leaves. The leaf blade is serrated along the edge. The leaves have a sharp taste and strong aroma. The flowers are white.

lettuce variety arugula Corsica. Medium, from germination to green harvesting 30-32 days. A semi-raised rosette of leaves is characteristic, up to 60 cm high. The leaf blade is narrow, smooth. The shape of the leaf is lyre-shaped with notched edges. The flowers are white with pink hues. In heat and drought, the variety shoots quickly.

lettuce variety Arugula Koltivata. Early ripe, from germination to harvesting greenery 20-25 days. Rosette of strongly dissected leaves up to 10-15 cm in height. The leaves are very fragrant. Contains high levels of essential oils. They have a sharp mustard flavor with a nutty aftertaste. Cream flowers. It is used for cultivation in the open and closed ground.

lettuce variety Arugula Dikovina. Mid-season, from germination to green harvesting 22-25 days. Plant height up to 20 cm. The leaves are lyre-shaped, smooth, collected in a semi-raised rosette (18-20 cm). Resistant to bolting, which allows for a long time to maintain the nutritional quality of greenery.

The text shows the most striking varieties in terms of their taste, bred in Russia (with the exception of the Ukrainian variety Lybid and the Dutch variety Koltivata). Relatively young varieties of Russian selection (included in the state register of varieties no earlier than 2005-2010) have proven themselves well when grown in open and protected ground. The raised rosette allows you to harvest a clean crop of greens. Varieties provide more than 1.0-1.5 to 2.5 kg of greenery per sq. m. area.

Finishing the article about the methods of growing different varieties of arugula, one cannot ignore its value as a food and medicinal plant.

Arugula garden, or Eruka sowing (Eruca vesicaria). © Brigid Jackson

Useful properties of arugula

The chemical composition of arugula determines its medicinal properties.

Arugula contains:

a large list of vitamins - A, C, B9 and others from the group, K, E, T, PP;
a set of vital micro and macro elements - iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, manganese, copper, sodium, etc.;
flavonoids and bioactive substances that have a beneficial effect on water-salt metabolism, the functioning and health of the gastrointestinal tract, blood sugar levels, strengthen the nervous system, have the ability to burn fat, lower cholesterol and increase hemoglobin; Arugula is recommended by doctors to patients with venous disease and high blood pressure.
Italians call arugula golden salad for its excellent healing properties in certain kidney diseases, predisposition to cancer, anemia, iodine deficiency, maintaining male strength (a natural aphrodisiac), increasing immunity to a number of other diseases.

Attention! The saturation of the green mass of arugula with essential oils and flavonoids can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before proceeding to taking preparations containing arugula, consult a doctor.

How to grow arugula at home

The annual rucola plant (eruca lettuce, rocket lettuce, caterpillar sowing, arugula) belongs to the early ripening vegetables of the cabbage family. This variety of garden leafy greens, which has become especially popular recently due to its exquisite unusual taste and super health benefits, came to us from the Mediterranean coast. Today, arugula is successfully used not only in the Mediterranean, but also in the cuisines of many continents and countries (America, Asia, Europe).

Arugula leaves spice up any dish, whether it's a fresh vegetable salad, pasta sauce, meat dishes or risotto. The delicate nut-mustard taste of the plant is due to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and essential oils. The use of arugula in food has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, tones the body, stimulates digestion, enhances intestinal motility and the removal of decay products. Due to its unique composition, the herb increases the level of hemoglobin and activates the immune system.

Not everyone has garden plots, but many would like to regularly enjoy this greenery, so in this article we will try to highlight the question of how to grow arugula at home. The trendy lettuce is quite unpretentious and does not require special agronomic skills and knowledge. Just follow the advice of experienced gardeners, and you will be provided with an excellent harvest of fragrant leaves at any time of the year.

How to grow arugula on a windowsill

Arugula seeds are bought at any specialized store. Early-ripening varieties of Koltivata, Solitaire, Rococo give a harvest quite quickly (after about three weeks), and mid-ripening - Corsica, Sicily ripen in 30-35 days. Different varieties differ not only in germination time, but also in the size, shape and color of the leaves, as well as in taste, which can be soft nutty, bitter or spicy.

Pot and soil preparation

To grow arugula on a windowsill, a pot, like any other container, must have a drainage layer (expanded clay, broken brick) and holes to remove excess moisture. The dimensions of the container for the mini-garden are selected based on the area of \u200b\u200bthe window sill. The height of the pot should not be less than 12 cm. The soil layer is filled up with a height of at least 6-7 cm.

Arugula is unpretentious and undemanding to the soil, the main thing is that the earth is sufficiently loose, moisture-permeable and always moist. The soil can be used universal, or it can be specially designed for seedlings. Such soil contains phosphorus and nitrogen in the right proportions, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of any plants, including arugula.

Arugula sowing

The seeds are laid out in rows on the surface of well-moistened soil, observing a step of 3 cm. From above they are covered with a layer of dry earth (1-1.5 cm), after which the soil is qualitatively treated with warm settled water from a sprayer. This method of initial watering helps to evenly distribute moisture over the entire surface of the soil.

The box (container) should be covered with any film or glass and placed in a warm place, for example, near a heating battery, or immediately on a windowsill, especially if there are sunny days. Arugula feels great at a fairly wide temperature range (from +10°C to +25°C).

illumination

In order to properly grow arugula on the windowsill, windows should face the sunny side, since all leafy greens love the maximum amount of light. If you do not have the opportunity to break a mini-garden on a south-facing window, then lighting can also be created artificially, which will not affect the yield in any way.

Above the surface of the plants at a distance of about half a meter, you can attach lighting fixtures, such as fluorescent lamps. In winter and in cloudy weather, supplementary lighting must be carried out all day. The rest of the time, for the normal development of greenery, it is enough to increase daylight hours by several hours.

Arugula Care

Do not forget to moisten the soil daily with a spray bottle, removing the film and airing the plantings. The first shoots appear very quickly (3-7 days), which is a signal to remove the protective coating and place the container in its permanent place.

Now the whole process of caring for your green pets comes down to regular watering. The plant very quickly absorbs all substances from the soil, so it is not recommended to fertilize with various chemical substrates.

Arugula harvest

When the leaves reach a height of 10 cm, you can begin to actively feast on spicy grass. You should not wait until it blooms, as in the photo at the beginning of the article :) The crop is harvested as needed, immediately before being added to culinary dishes (this way all nutrients are preserved to the maximum), tearing off green leaves, the original corrugated form. With a uniform, gentle picking, arugula can delight you with its greens for up to 45 days!

As you can see, growing arugula on the windowsill is not difficult. You just have to decide on this important step and in a month you will enjoy the magnificent appearance and taste of this exotic spice.

Mila Nabogova "How to grow arugula at home" especially for the Eco-life website.

Arugula is a natural doctor that can protect against problems with the thyroid or prostate gland, normalize the hemoglobin in the human body and get rid of edema. This herb has a spicy, nutty-mustard scent and can turn a simple salad or soup into a gourmet meal. If you want to enjoy fresh leaves, then you can learn how to grow arugula at home on your windowsill.

Before you grow arugula at home, you should find out its features and understand some of the nuances. This is the only way to get the desired result without wasting time and effort.

A big plus of growing arugula is that at home it is quite simple, as the plant is considered not capricious and gives a good harvest in a variety of containers: from flower pots to wooden boxes.

Growing herbs at home, you should consider the following features:

it is necessary to give preference to neutral or slightly alkaline soil;
the soil must be disinfected. To do this, you can hold it in the oven for half an hour;
the bottom of the container where the seeds are planned to be planted is covered with drainage. Pebbles, broken bricks or expanded clay can be taken as drainage;
The plant needs light. For this reason, the seed container should be placed on the windowsill on the south side. In the event that there is little light in the apartment, ordinary lamps with daylight can be used;
direct rays of the sun should not fall on arugula, for which it is worth making a kind of screen around the container, which is easy to build from ordinary sheets of white paper. Such a screen can be not only around the pot, but also cover the top of the window.

The success of the business depends on how well each stage is organized, namely: the selection of seeds, sowing and caring for sprouts. Only if these requirements are met, in the end, you can enjoy a delicious product. By the way, if you violate this or that rule, the beneficial properties of arugula will deteriorate.

Selection of planting material

Arugula can be found in any store for summer residents. Before packing, all seeds are processed, therefore, after purchase, they do not need to be disinfected or dressed. However, there are some features that are worth paying attention to. So, the grown plant in the end may not be arugula. A similar name is found in two more plants from the sacral family.

That is why it is worth focusing on varieties such as Koltivata, Poker or Rococo. These plants, with proper planting and care, can produce fresh greens after 25 days.

conditions for growth

After the arugula seeds are planted, the container should be placed immediately on the windowsill, preferably near the heating battery. In the event that the seeds are additionally covered with something, they should be aired periodically. The soil should be moistened more often, but do it delicately, preferably with a spray bottle.

If all conditions are met thoroughly, the first sprouts can be seen already 5-7 days after planting. In such a case, it is not worth protecting and sheltering them, and a permanent place is determined for the box. Arugula does not need to be fed with chemical substrates. If the soil is chosen correctly, then the plant will take everything it needs from it.

Lighting

If we talk about lighting, the planted arugula should receive a sufficient amount of light. If the plant is standing on a window or on a balcony not on the sunny side, it will not have enough light. In such a case, it is worth worrying about providing it with artificial lighting.

As a rule, daylight lamps are located at a distance of 50 centimeters above the soil or sprouts. On cloudy days, a plant located even on the south side still needs additional light. However, the main thing is not to overdo it, as too much light can cause the plant to grow tall and too thin.

Temperature

Sprouts must be protected from drafts, which, however, are a danger to any plant, but arugula is the most sensitive and tender. Do not open a window or window where the container with the planted seeds is located. As for the temperature regime, it is necessary to ensure that the air in the room does not fall below +17 degrees, even in winter.

Capacity

If we talk about the capacity where the cultivation of arugula will take place, then there are a lot of options, since the plant is unpretentious and does not need special frills. So, for these purposes, suitable: a wooden box, a flower pot, a plastic container.

Some gardeners or gardeners manage to make planting containers from incredible things, for example, from milk bags. Any container must have sides, the height of which is at least 12 centimeters. Without fail, it is necessary to make holes at the bottom of the container so that, if necessary, moisture leaves, and air enters the roots.

It is better to put the container on a stand or tray so as not to damage or stain the window sill. It would be ideal if you choose boxes of the same length as the surface on which they will stand.