How to Grow Arugula Microgreens
Eruca sativa
Arugula microgreens offer a quick harvest of peppery flavor for salads and sandwiches. Gardeners grow them to enjoy fresh greens year-round in small spaces or trays.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Arugula Microgreens: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Arugula Microgreens is not usually started indoors.
These microgreens are harvested directly from the tray and do not require transplanting outdoors.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare a shallow tray with sterile seed-starting mix adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds densely, as they do not require deep planting; simply press them gently into the surface. Arugula is a cool-season crop, so start indoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date.
Maintain consistent moisture by misting lightly two or three times daily to prevent damping off from overwatering. Provide moderate light or grow lights for twelve to fourteen hours each day. These microgreens require no support structures, trellising, or additional feeding during their rapid growth cycle.
Watch for flea beetles and aphids, though issues are minimal in short cycles; ensure good air circulation to prevent damping off. Harvest the entire tray ten to fifteen days after sowing when leaves reach full size. Cut just above the soil line using scissors or a knife.
When to Plant Arugula Microgreens
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | — | January – December |
Companion Plants for Arugula Microgreens
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and flea beetles that commonly attack arugula, enhances growth
Natural pest deterrent against aphids and other soft-bodied insects
Attracts beneficial insects and has complementary growth habits
Repels aphids and cabbage worms, attracts beneficial predatory insects
Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, efficient use of growing space
Natural nematode control and general pest deterrent through root secretions
Quick germination helps break soil crust, deters flea beetles from arugula
Compatible cool-season crop with similar water and light requirements
✗ Keep away from
Juglone toxicity severely inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants like arugula
Allelopathic compounds inhibit germination and growth of most brassicas
May stunt arugula growth through root competition and chemical inhibition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
