Microgreens

Arugula

Eruca sativa

Arugula is one of the fastest and easiest microgreens to grow: in 6 to 9 days you get a peppery flavor perfect for pizza and salads. It provides glucosinolates and vitamin K.

Harvest: Harvest: 6–9 days
Temperature: Temperature: 59–72 °F (15–22 °C)
Difficulty: Difficulty: Easy

Quick step-by-step

Prepare the tray
Use a 20×40 cm (8×16 in) tray with 2 cm (0.8 in) of growing medium.
Sow on the surface, no soak
No presoak needed. Sow on the surface without covering the seed.
Mist the surface only
The seeds are mucilaginous: use a mister only, never direct watering, or they form a gel block.
Give it indirect light
8 to 12 hours of indirect light (it tolerates less light than other microgreens), at 15–22 °C (59–72 °F).
Harvest before the heat hits
Cut at 6 to 9 days; above 22 °C (72 °F) or left to overgrow, the flavor turns very peppery or bitter.

Common mistakes

Watering it hard
The mucilaginous seeds form a gel block if watered hard. Use a mister only.
Letting it overgrow in the heat
Above 22 °C (72 °F) the flavor turns very peppery or bitter.