GenAcres Homestead: 2024-03-03

GROWING Arugula

aka Rocket Roquette

Cool-season annual plant

Height: 6-12" Width 8-10"

The leaves of Arugula provide a spicy zing when added to salads. It will grow a rosette about a foot wide and equally as tall. It's a cut-and-come-again plant. It boasts several health benefits. It is an excellent source of fiber, rich in Vitamins A, C, and K as well as a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Types:

Wild Arugula. Grows up to 2' tall with jagged leaves and a yellow flower.

Rocket Salad. A weaker peppery flavor. The plant grows up to 3' tall. It has lobed leaves and a white flower.

Starting Seeds of Arugula

Seed Depth:                    1/8" on the soil surface and tamp down.
Seed Spacing:                 3-4" Thin to 4-6".
Days to Germinate:          7-14 days.
Days to Harvest:              3 weeks/baby leaves, 45 days mature.
Seed Longevity:               4 years.

Sowing Outdoors

Direct sow in the ground or in containers as early as when the soil temperature is 40+ degrees.

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat. This method is especially good for sowing herbs and greens. Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of a milk jug during the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in Spring.

To see our detailed article about Winter Sowing, click here.

To watch our 30 minute video on how to winter sow, click here.

Growing Arugula Plants

Growing Temperature:

Arugula is frost hardy enough that it can grow through the winter in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse.

Plant Spacing:                  12-18" apart.
Container Size: 8" depth is enough.
Sun/Shade:                       Full sun, some mid-day shade.
Soil:                                   Rich, compost.
Watering:                           Consistent moisture for best flavor.

Fertilizing:

Since greens are such a fast-growing crop, as long as they are grown in rich soil there may be little need for further fertilization. That said, a liquid balanced fertilizer when the seedlings are 4" tall will give your greens a boost and carry them through their short season. After the temperatures warm, though, the leaves of Arugula will turn bitter and no amount of fertilizer will help at that point.

Harvesting Arugula

Harvest when leaves are 4-6" tall. Harvest outer leaves. Harvest until leaves taste too strong. Harvesting often will encourage new growth.

Using Arugula

A great addition to any salad, but use sparingly for a mustard-like flavor.
Pizza toppings.
Add Arugula flowers to salads in late spring and summer for their peppery flavor.
Cook larger leaves with other greens.
Small leaves tend to be milder while the larger has a more peppery taste.
Arugula goes well with most meats, especially grilled meats.

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Storing Arugula For Later Use

Remove Arugula's tough stems, clean and dry.
Although tender green-leafed plants, like lettuce, cannot be preserved well, the thicker leafed greens can be preserved.

Fresh

Clean and pat dry. Bundle stems lightly, place on a paper towel (to absorb moisture) and wrap in a plastic bag. Keeps in refrigerator for 10 days.

Freezing for Later Use in Chilis, Soups, Sauces, and Casseroles.

Steam or saute' leaves, chop them and store in freezer bags.
Puree with water and freeze into ice cube trays.
Clean and dry the leaves and store in quart size freezer bags.
Frozen leaves will keep for 6 months.
Blanching the leaves for two minutes first will extend freezer storage to 14 months.

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Spinach is a cool-weather quick-growing annual related to Beets and Swiss Chard. Spinach has high amounts of carotenoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium. It is one of the healthiest salad choices you can make.

The Basics

Annual
Height: 6" to 3' Width: 3" to 15"

Types:
Savory Spinach. Dark green crinkled leaves. It grows flatter compared to other Spinach. It tends to be more cold-hardy and becomes sweet and crispy after a frost.

Flat-Leaf Spinach. Grows more upright and easier to wash.

Semi-Savory. A hybrid between the two. Leaves aren't as crinkled or as smooth.

Starting Seeds of Spinach

Seed Depth: 1/2" deep

Seed Spacing: 2" apart, thin seedlings to 4-5" apart. Mature 10-12".

Days to Germinate: 1 week at 60 degrees.

Days to Harvest: 20-30 days for baby greens.
35-45 days mature leaves.

Seed Longevity: 1-3 years.

Sowing Indoors:
Spring: Sow seeds 3-4 weeks before your last average frost date. Transplant out as soon as seedlings are easily handled. Note that spinach doesn't always transplant well.

Sowing Outdoors:
Spring: Direct sow in the ground or a container as soon as the soil can be worked. Succession sow every 2 weeks until mid-May. Covering with a shade net or row cover will hasten germination.

Fall: Direct sow in the ground or container 6 weeks before your first average frost date.

Winter Sowing:

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat. This method is especially good for sowing herbs and greens.

Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of a milk jug during the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in Spring.

For a detailed article all about Winter Sowing, click here.

Growing Spinach Plants

Growing Temperature: 41 - 75 degrees. Survives light frosts.

Plant Spacing: 5" to harvest small or 8-12" for mature leaves.

Container Size: Spinach has a deep taproot. The pot must be 12" deep.

Sun/Shade: Full sun to part shade.

Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil rich in organic matter.

Watering: Water consistently for the best flavor. Water stress will cause Spinach to bolt early.

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Fertilizing:

Since greens are such a fast-growing crop, as long as they are grown in rich soil there may be little need for further fertilization.

That said, a liquid balanced fertilizer when the seedlings are 4" tall will give your greens a boost and carry them through their short season. After the temperatures warm, though, the leaves of Spinach will turn bitter and no amount of fertilizer will help at that point.

Too much nitrogen gives Spinach a metallic flavor.

Growing Tips

When the Spinach plant is about to bolt, pull the entire plant to harvest before the leaves become bitter.

Shade the plant at temperatures over 80 degrees.

Cut the entire plant an inch above ground level to encourage the plant to regrow another crop of leaves.

Harvesting Spinach

Harvest anytime Spinach is large enough to eat. Harvest young outer leaves to allow centers to grow larger and keep producing which also will delay bolting.

Using Spinach

Use fresh spinach for salads.

Chop fresh Spinach to add to chilis, soups or sauces two minutes before serving.

Sauteed Spinach, Spinach Dip, Spinach Salads, Creamed Spinach.

Storing Spinach For Later Use

Spinach loses its nutritional quality quickly after harvest, so harvest right before processing.

Although tender green-leafed plants, like lettuce, cannot be preserved well, the thicker leafed greens can be preserved.

Fresh
Clean and pat dry. Bundle stems lightly, place on a paper towel (to absorb moisture) and wrap in a plastic bag. Keeps in refrigerator for 10 days.

Growing Arugula -- Homesteading 101