Arugula
Eruca vesicaria
Peppery leaves in three weeks; the flowers are edible too.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: part shade to full sun
Size: about 1 ft tall, 0.5 ft wide
Harvest: April to October
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Rocket grew wild in the Mediterranean and was eaten by the Romans, who thought it an aphrodisiac; it was a peasant green in Italy for centuries before it became a restaurant salad in the 1990s. It is fast, peppery, and sows itself.
Planting
Full sun or light shade, any soil; sow directly from early spring, every three weeks, and again in autumn. It takes light frost.
Growing
Keep moist; dry heat makes it fiery and quick to bolt. No feeding needed. Let a few plants flower for the bees and the seed.
Harvest and use
Cut leaves from three weeks after sowing; small leaves are mild, big ones hot. Flowers are edible.
What to watch for
Flea beetles, and heat.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home