Growing Arugula Indoors is very easy! This spicy, pretty-leaved perennial salad green, called Rocket, is an instant grower and is even more so now, with some tasteful harvest time additions, making it one the bountiest of all! Arugula is growing requirements are fairly simple and once you start a few plants of arugula inside, you’ll just wonder why you didn’t grow it sooner!
Your first step in growing arugula indoors is to determine the type of potting mix which best suits your plants. You will need good quality pots with plastic lids or glass, holes in the bottom to allow moisture to escape and drainage, to protect your plant roots. The soil in these containers must be firm but moist; sandy if possible. Many people choose to use sand, which is fine. Do not use the cheap garden soil from the supermarket because this tends to be too loose and does not provide adequate drainage.
When it comes to growing arugula indoors, the key is to ensure that the root system gets plenty of light and air so that they can grow to their maximum potential. As far as fertilizers go, there are many different brands on the market, so check out a couple to see what your options are. Buy the ones that are recommended by gardeners and plant seeds to start with, mixing a little of compost into the soil when it is ready. When it starts to weather, then you can add the fertilizer.
One other consideration when growing arugula in containers is ensuring that the root system gets plenty of nutrients. There are many different fertilizers that you can buy for your plants, but you can also make your own mix using fish emulsion, water, and coffee grinds. Mix the first two components together and apply to the soil. This will give your plant roots a better start.
To start growing arugula indoors, choose about four to six inches of potting soil to plant your seeds in. This should be packed tightly into small containers, such as baby food jars, but you do not have to stick to those measurements. If you have a window that can allow some light in, that’s even better, as that will give your plants more sunlight and calories. However, if you cannot get an outside pot, at least make sure that your pots are at least six inches deep, with no spaces between the pots.
In late winter or early spring, remove your seedlings from their containers and place them in cold weather or a cold storage box. Make sure that they are well watered, but avoid getting them too wet. If you are growing seedlings that you plan to replant, leave them in the same pots and just move them around every few days to allow air circulation in the soil. Your seedlings will germinate much easier this way.
In late winter or early spring before planting, remove all of your plants except for the seedling that you are growing. If you are planting in pots, dig a hole a little deeper than the roots of your chosen plants and pour in about a half cup of white vinegar. Any seedlings that are not growing should be removed immediately, but keep in mind that they will eventually grow and you will need to replenish the soil with additional soil. This method will prevent overcrowding in the small containers that you chose to plant your arugula seeds in. This will also prevent the disease from affecting your plants.
In the months following spring, plant your vegetables in a large terracotta pot and add some good soil. Place the pot in a sunny window for extra light. In the months following summer, dig a hole twice the width of your container and pour in about three inches of soil. Place the plant leaves in the soil and cover with dirt. Water your plant leaves daily and wipe them off as soon as they start to turn yellow. In the months following autumn, water your plants thoroughly and apply a light layer of fertilizer to help them grow.