Arugula: Spacing, Yield & Planting Dates
Plant count & yield calculator
Pre-filled for this crop — adjust bed size or pick a different vegetable.
Enter bed size to count plants.
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Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
Seed starting dates
Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule. For Arugula with this frost date : start indoors ~Mar 25, direct sow ~Mar 18 .
Pick a last frost date for the schedule.
Your result
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Show the math & assumptions
Assumptions and formulas will appear here once you calculate.
About arugula
Arugula adds a distinctive peppery bite to salads and pizzas, growing from seed to harvest in under six weeks during cool weather.
Spacing & yield
Arugula wants 4×9 inches and about 0.3 lb per plant at ~40 days to maturity.
Growing tips
- Direct sow 4 weeks before last frost for the earliest spring greens.
- Succession-sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvests; arugula bolts fast in heat.
- Harvest at baby-leaf stage (3 inches) for mild flavor, or let leaves grow larger for more punch.
- Plant in part shade during warm months to slow bolting by a week or more.
Common mistakes
- Growing in full summer sun without shade, causing instant bolting and bitter leaves.
- Spacing too tightly for full-size leaves — 4 inches in-row is the minimum.
Harvest & storage
Cut outer leaves at 3-5 inches or harvest whole rosettes, starting about 40 days from sowing.
Refrigerate in a sealed container with a paper towel; use within 5 days as arugula wilts quickly.
Companion planting
Good neighbors for arugula: lettuce, spinach, strawberries, bush beans. Avoid planting beside: other brassicas in tight rotation.
Planting calendar
Start indoors about 3 weeks before last frost. Direct sow is also an option around 4 weeks before frost. Use the seed-starting calculator above with your real county frost date — the April 15 default is only a worked example (zone 6 style).
Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.
Frequently asked questions
- How far apart should arugula be planted?
- Space 4 inches in-row with 9 inches between rows; for baby greens, sow more densely at 1-2 inches.
- How much arugula per plant?
- Each plant yields about 0.3 lb of leaves over repeated cut-and-come-again harvests.
- How fast does arugula grow?
- One of the fastest salad crops at roughly 40 days from seed to full-size harvest.