When to Plant Arugula

Arugula is a half-hardy cool-season vegetable. It takes light frosts but not a hard freeze.

Sow it outdoors from 5 weeks before the last spring frost to 1 week after it. For a fall crop, sow 5 to 9 weeks before the first fall frost. The first harvest comes about 30 to 50 days after sowing.

Example dates

The same rules in dates for three climates, using typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.

Arugula: dates by last spring and first fall frost
TaskLast frost Mar 15first Nov 15Last frost Apr 15first Oct 25Last frost May 15first Sep 30
Sow outdoorsFeb 8 – Mar 22Mar 11 – Apr 22Apr 10 – May 22
HarvestMar 10 – 31Apr 10 – May 1May 10 – 31
Fall: Sow outdoorsSep 13 – Oct 11Aug 23 – Sep 20Jul 29 – Aug 26
Fall: HarvestOct 13 – Nov 3Sep 22 – Oct 13Aug 28 – Sep 18

Growing arugula

Fast-growing and peppery; sow little and often, because plants bolt quickly once it gets warm.

  • Spacing: 6 in apart, in rows 12 in apart. In a raised bed, 4 per sq ft at square-foot spacing.
  • Days to harvest: 30 to 50 from sowing, then about 3 weeks of picking.
  • Successions: sow again every 14 days for a steady supply. See succession planting.
  • Rotation: arugula is in the cabbage family. Plant it where nothing from that family grew in the last two years. See crop rotation.

Plan your beds with these dates

Draw your beds, tap squares to plant arugula and everything else, and get every crop's dates for your ZIP code in one calendar. Free, in your browser.

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Questions

Can arugula go in before the last frost?

Yes. Arugula is half-hardy: sow it from 5 weeks before the last spring frost to 1 week after it.

How long does arugula take to grow?

About 30 to 50 days from sowing to the first harvest, which then lasts about 3 weeks. Varieties differ: check the seed packet.

Can I grow arugula in fall?

Yes. Sow 5 to 9 weeks before the first fall frost. Enter your ZIP code above for the dates where you live.

How often should I sow arugula?

Every 14 days or so for a steady harvest, until the last sowing that still ripens before your first fall frost. The planner works that date out for your ZIP code.

More planting dates

Sources

  1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, by station: freeze dates at 32 °F)
  2. University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Planting Calendar for central Maryland
  3. NC State Extension: Extension Gardener Handbook, Chapter 16: Vegetable Gardening
  4. WSU Extension: Pacific Northwest Gardener's Handbook, Chapter 7: Vegetable Gardening