When And How To Harvest Arugula

If you’re a salad lover, you’ll know just how tasty arugula is and have probably decided to try growing it yourself at home. It’s just as easy as growing lettuce, if not better, and is full of flavor homegrown.

But growing arugula is just one challenge; next, you have to know when to harvest arugula so that it doesn’t become too bitter in flavor or bolt. When harvested at the right time, this plant can keep giving throughout the summer for you to enjoy again and again.

Check out this guide on when and how to harvest arugula so you can make the most of these peppery salad leaves.

When to Harvest Arugula

Arugula is available in a wide variety of different varieties, including rocket, Italian cress, and wasabi. With each variety, arugula has a different length of maturity. If planting your arugula from seed, check the packet to confirm how long it takes to grow.

Most varieties are mature in 50 days, with fast-growing varieties ready to harvest in only 35 days.

However, remember you don’t have to wait until your arugula is fully mature to harvest it. The smaller leaves are often the most tender and mildest in flavor, making them an excellent base for your salad.

How to Harvest Arugula

There are three core stages of harvesting arugula

1. Small, fresh leaves
2. Cutting sections of the arugula plant
3. Digging up and harvesting the whole plant.

Harvesting Small Arugula Leaves

To harvest the baby leaves of an arugula plant, you need to ensure they are at least 2-3 inches in length and the plant has at least 3-5 stems. This way, you enable the plant to recover from your harvest and focus on producing new leaves to take their place.

To harvest arugula leaf by leaf, you can either use your hands or a sterile serrated knife or scissors. Make sure to cut just below the leaf to include the stem. Try to focus on cutting the outer leaves and leaving the center of the plant intact.

Harvesting Sections of Arugula

If you want a larger harvest of arugula at a time, then you can cut up to half of the plant at once without damaging it. But, you have to be careful to know which part of the plant to cut so that it can regrow and recover.

It is best to cut the outer leaves with a sterile knife, including the stalks. Then, work inwards, ensuring to leave behind the smallest leaves and the center of the plant.

This way, you will have a mixture of longer leaves and baby leaves, making a mild to peppery salad.

If you prefer a stronger arugula flavor, you can harvest it once the leaves are at least 6 inches tall. These are mature leaves with a full, deep flavor. Cut the same as if you were cutting the baby leaves, ensuring you cut part of the stem for each leaf.

Harvesting The Whole Arugula

Of course, you can also harvest the whole plant, which is ideal before it bolts and produces flowers.

When your leaves have matured, arugula will quickly start to produce flowers. At this point, your leaves will become bitter in flavor and quite overpowering. Before arugula flowers, you can carefully dig up the whole plant to wash and harvest the leaves.

If your plant has already flowered, do not worry, as your arugula is still salvageable. The flowers can also be eaten in salads; some less mature leaves are edible in salads. For any of the stronger leaves that you can’t hack into a fresh salad, you can turn them into a fresh sauce, such as pesto.

Top Tip When Harvesting Arugula

There are a few things to keep in mind when harvesting arugula. Firstly, try to avoid harvesting after heavy rainfall. The leaves will be sodden or covered in dew, which is hardly appealing.

It is also best not to harvest your arugula during the hottest part of the day as it is likely your arugula leaves will have wilted and, again, not be in a prime condition for eating.

For optimal arugula leaves, harvest them either in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler, and the leaves are in the best condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will arugula grow back after cutting?

This all depends on how much of your arugula you harvest. If you stick to harvesting just a few leaves at a time, or around ⅓, and then wait at least a week before harvesting again, your plant will regrow.

However, if you harvest the full plant or don’t wait long enough between larger harvests, your plant will not have enough time to recover and reproduce new leaves.

How do I know when my arugula is ready to harvest?

Arugula is a fast-maturing plant that can begin to be harvested once the leaves are around 2 inches long. For stronger flavored leaves, wait until they have grown around 6 inches before harvesting.

How many times can you harvest arugula?

If harvesting a small amount at a time, your arugula plant will have lots of time to recover and reproduce new leaves. Using this harvesting method, you can easily harvest your arugula half a dozen times before the whole plant needs harvesting.

Is arugula ok to eat after it flowers?

Once your arugula has bolted or flowered, the leaves become extremely bitter and are considered inedible to most people. However, the leaves are perfectly ok to eat if you prefer the strong, bitter taste. Don’t worry if you prefer the milder flavored leaves, the flowers are edible and can be eaten even if the leaves can’t.

How long do arugula plants last?

As arugula is an annual plant, it only lasts for one growing season before it needs to be dug up and completely harvested. You would need to start a new plant the following year.