When to plant arugula by city
Sow arugula outdoors up to 6 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow 4–8 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Jan 30 – Mar 13 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Jan 14 – Feb 25 | Oct 6 – Nov 3 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Dec 1 – Jan 12 | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Nov 24 – Jan 5 | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Feb 17 – Mar 31 | Sep 13 – Oct 11 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | Aug 17 – Sep 14 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Jan 19 – Mar 2 | Oct 4 – Nov 1 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Mar 12 – Apr 23 | Aug 21 – Sep 18 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Feb 21 – Apr 4 | Sep 7 – Oct 5 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Feb 27 – Apr 10 | Sep 10 – Oct 8 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Mar 9 – Apr 20 | Aug 29 – Sep 26 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Feb 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 5 – Oct 3 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Feb 10 – Mar 24 | Sep 13 – Oct 11 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Feb 14 – Mar 28 | Sep 13 – Oct 11 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Feb 16 – Mar 30 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Feb 21 – Apr 4 | Sep 14 – Oct 12 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow arugula from fall through winter.
Arugula spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 9 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 4 inches apart with 10 inches between rows.
Turns peppery and bolts in summer heat; sow in spring and fall.
How to grow arugula
Arugula is a fast, peppery salad green ready in about a month. It handles frost well, so it is one of the first and last things sown each year, but it bolts and turns harsh in summer heat. Spring and fall are its seasons.
Sun and soil
Full sun to light shade in moist, fertile soil with a pH around 6.0–7.0. Keep the soil evenly moist; dry soil speeds bolting and sharpens the flavor.
Planting
- Sow ¼ inch deep as soon as the soil can be worked, up to 6 weeks before the last frost; seeds sprout in cool soil (about 40°F).
- Thin to 4 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart, or sow thickly in a band for cut-and-come-again harvests.
- Sow a little every 2–3 weeks through spring for a steady supply.
- For fall, sow 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Cover the bed with row cover right after sowing to keep flea beetles off.
- Water regularly, and give late-spring plantings a little afternoon shade.
- Skip summer sowings in hot regions; plants flower almost immediately.
Harvest
Begin picking when leaves are 2–4 inches long, either taking outer leaves or cutting the whole planting an inch or two above the soil to regrow. Young leaves are mildest. Once plants bolt, leaves get bitter, but the white flowers are edible in salads.
Common problems
- Flea beetles: The main pest; they riddle leaves with small holes and can wipe out seedlings. Row cover from sowing, and favor fall crops, when flea beetles are scarce.
- Bolting: Long days, heat and dry soil trigger flowering. Sow early in spring and again in late summer, keep soil moist, and harvest young.
- Aphids: Rinse off with a strong spray of water or use insecticidal soap.
Varieties to try
- 'Astro' — quick, slightly milder, tolerates warm weather
- Wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia, sold as Sylvetta) — narrow, sharper leaves, more heat tolerant, perennial to zone 5
Crop rotation
Arugula belong to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Clubroot and cabbage pests build up in the soil. Rotate for at least 3 years. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, radish, turnip, bok choy, kohlrabi.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant arugula?
How far apart should I plant arugula?
How long do arugula take to grow?
Can arugula handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Arugula — University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension
- Eruca vesicaria (arugula) — NC State Extension Plant Toolbox