Fresh from the garden on the table - plant arugula yourself
The rocket plant can be pre-cultivated on the windowsill from the end of January. The temperature should be in the range of 10 to 16 ° C, i.e. neither too cold nor too warm. After a germination time of approx. 5 - 15 days, the first small plants appear, which can be relocated to the field from March onwards, or the seeds can be sown again there. But remember to protect the rocket from frost damage in extreme cold. If necessary, cover the plants with a garden fleece.
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The right location ensures abundant growth
Choose a sunny spot for the rocket perennial. It is ideal if you have already prepared the site with compost in autumn. The soil prepared in this way is an excellent base on which the arugula will develop magnificently and thank you for the effort with rapid growth. The more nutrient-rich the soil, the greater the subsequent harvest. However, it is important to note that no other cruciferous plants have been grown in the same place in the past three years. The rocket also belongs to this plant genus and the crop rotation requires that a break in cultivation be taken here in order to obtain satisfactory results. If other cruciferous plants, for example types of cabbage such as white, red or Brussels sprouts, were previously planted in the same place,so here you should definitely pay attention to the time interval.
The right care makes it
In this regard, arugula is a more than grateful plant. It is considered to be extremely easy to care for and delights the gardener with its rapid growth. After about 4 to 6 weeks you will be rewarded with a freshly harvested salad. No additional fertilizers are required when growing arugula. Sometimes this can even be reversed. If rocket is given too much fertilizer, this can trigger what is known as leaf spot disease. If your plants are affected, you have to cut them out completely and dispose of them. If you ensure well-dosed irrigation on dry days, this is completely sufficient and you can soon look forward to a high harvest yield.
Earth fleas, cabbage flies and other pests
Unfortunately, arugula is not immune to pests either. In order to intervene here as a precaution, however, only little effort is required. Regularly loosen the soil around the plants with a rake and make sure that the soil is always slightly damp. How to protect your plants from annoying earth fleas. The plants can be protected against cabbage flies with a simple insect net. To avoid the leaf spot disease mentioned above, you should completely refrain from fertilizing. The so-called downy mildew, a fungus that unfortunately often appears in allotment gardens, threatens further damage to the plants. You can spray the plants with acher horsetail broth to strengthen them. Most of the time, adhering to the crop rotation is sufficient. A sufficient distance between the plants is guaranteed,that you can only water the soil around the plants and the leaves are spared. This also prevents downy mildew. Do you have ladybugs in your garden? Then you have two reasons to be happy! Ladybugs not only look cute, they also put an end to this unpleasant pest.
Harvest time - the best time
The rocket is ripe for harvest when the leaves are approx. 10-12 cm long. Do not cut it too deep, because then the rocket will continue to sprout. The iron-rich and calcium-rich plant can then, like lettuce, be harvested up to three times. If you let the rocket perennial bloom in the garden, you can later harvest the seeds from the white-yellowish flower yourself. Keep the seeds in a dry place so that they are available for new sowing. If you forego a harvest, the seeds will also spread in your bed by themselves. It can happen that the arugula spreads like a “weed”. Since arugula can be planted all year round, you can repeat the sowing in a different location,so that you will always have fresh salad on your plate until the end of September - by then rocket can be harvested without any problems.
The preparation
The stems of the rocket should be removed as far as possible, as they contain bitter substances and so the delicious, slightly nutty and spicy aroma can develop better. Let your imagination run wild and compose delicious salad creations that are also very healthy. Give it a try - top a pizza with rocket. Enjoy the taste experience at home, which is otherwise reserved for Italian restaurants.
