Arugula tastes like watercress, radish and walnuts. The mustard oils contained in the seeds are responsible for this fragrant, pungent and slightly bitter taste. Arugula complements the taste of vegetable salads, sandwiches, meat dishes.
Arugula grows quite quickly - the greens are cut off after 3 weeks from the moment of germination. Therefore, it can be sown all summer until the end of August.
Growing arugula in open ground is carried out in approximately the same way as growing lettuce - it needs to be regularly watered, weeded, and the soil between plants and rows loosened.
If the arugula grows too thick, it must be thinned out or it may lose its distinctive flavor and aroma.
Arugula loves light, nutritious soil based on black soil or sand. Greenery does not grow well in acidic soil - soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction is preferable. To reduce acidity, you can add a little lime to the soil.
The soil on the bed with arugula must be kept loose and slightly moist all the time, so watering should be carried out often, and after moistening the soil, the aisles should be loosened.
The hotter and drier the weather, the more often the area with arugula should be watered - ideally daily.
Arugula does not need fertilizer, enough nutrients obtained from humus. Juicy greens actively absorb nitrates, and when overfeeding, the leaves can become hazardous to health.