Content
Arugula is one of the varieties of salad. This green plant can be found in the wild in many hot countries, but arugula began to be cultivated in the Mediterranean. Another name for this salad crop is eruka. It belongs to the cabbage family, so turnips, radishes, radishes, horseradish, and cabbage can be considered relatives of arugula.
In Russia, eruca began to spread along with the popularity of Italian and Mediterranean culinary dishes, because it is an invariable component of most salads, pastas, risotto, pizza, seasonings and sauces.
How to properly grow arugula in Russia, and which variety of this strange plant is better to choose - everything is in our article.
What are the differences between arugula varieties?
Eruka bushes in their structure resemble lettuce bushes: the lower leaves are collected in rosettes, the upper ones are covered with a small down or glossy, the shape of the leaves depends on the variety, can be round with smooth edges or elongated with a wavy, zigzag edge.
The stems are slightly pubescent, smooth, their height reaches 30-60 cm. The inflorescences are rare, the color of the flowers can be white, yellow, or purple. Arugula is considered good honey plant, it is loved by bees and other pollinating insects.
The taste of eruka leaves largely depends on the plant variety. But the general notes are the same - nut and mustard. The taste of greens is spicy, slightly bitter, with sourness. Eruka can add piquancy to any dish; it can be added not only to sauces and seasonings; arugula is used to decorate sandwiches and appetizers, added to soups and stews, and is an excellent pie filling.
The fruits of arugula are oval-shaped seed pods in which small peas are located in two rows - brown or brown seeds.
The seeds appear quite quickly - 3 weeks after the appearance of the first shoots. They can be collected and sown immediately, because Arugula can be grown all season long - from April until the end of summer.
The growing season of arugula is very short - from 25 to 35 days. After this period, the leaves become too hard and are no longer suitable for consumption. By the time of ripening, the leaf reaches a length of about 10 cm. Eruka varieties are divided into early-ripening and mid-ripening.
Variety "Wonderful"
This arugula can be classified as a mid-season variety - the greens ripen approximately 30 days after sowing the seeds in the soil. The height of the plant is about 20 cm, the stem of this variety is smooth, slightly pubescent. The lower part is a rosette assembled from lyre-shaped leaves. Arugula “Wonder” blooms in small cream-colored inflorescences.
The variety has high taste characteristics, so it is often used for preparing a wide variety of dishes.
Variety "Cupid's Arrows"
One of the most popular varieties among gardeners and cooks is eruka.This arugula is mid-season - the leaves ripen by the 35th day after the first shoots appear.
The stems of salad greens of this variety can reach 30 cm in height, straight and smooth. The leaves are collected in rosettes, the shape of the leaves is carved, they are long and narrow. The inflorescences of the “Cupid's Arrows” variety can be recognized by their characteristic yellow tint. The bushes of this variety of arugula look a little like dandelions.
Variety "Olivetta"
Arugula is an early ripening variety - the growing season is only three weeks. The bushes are straight, even, their height does not exceed 15-20 cm. The leaves have a lyre-shaped, slightly oval shape, and are colored rich green.
You can distinguish greens from the Olivetta variety by their characteristic, slightly bitter taste and pronounced nutty aroma. These taste qualities are very highly valued by culinary experts; arugula of the Olivetta variety gives dishes a special piquancy.
Variety "Rocket"
This variety of eruka also ripens very quickly - just 20-23 days after the first sprouts emerge from the ground, you can harvest arugula.
The arugula bushes are low - only 20 cm, the leaves are collected in rosettes, the shape of the leaves of the variety resembles feathers - they have carved, slightly rounded edges. The leaves are colored dark green. The taste of this greenery also has such a valuable nutty flavor; arugula of the “Rocket” variety can turn any bland dish into a culinary masterpiece.
Variety "Victoria"
An early ripening variety of arugula, ripening in just 20-25 days after sowing the seeds in the beds. The bushes are formed by straight stems and rosettes of oval leaves. The height of arugula bushes of the Victoria variety does not exceed 15-20 cm.
This eruka is especially valued for the extremely high content of vitamins in its tender leaves.
Variety "Poker"
An early variety of arugula, the growing season of which is only three weeks. After this period of time, you can harvest healthy greens.
The leaves of this variety are large, long, and colored in a rich green hue. Eruka blooms with cream-colored flowers; the variety reaches a maximum height of 20 cm.
A distinctive feature of the variety is a slightly sweetish taste with mustard notes.
Solitaire variety
Refers to mid-season varieties; full ripening of greenery occurs only on the 35-40th day after the seeds were sown. The leaves of the plant are dark green, their shape is dissected and elongated.
A characteristic feature of the arugula variety is its mustard-nutty flavor, which is especially valuable in cooking. Such eruka will be great for sale in stores and markets!
Variety "Spartak"
An early variety, the growing season is only 19-25 days. The height of the bushes can reach 18-20 cm. Eruka variety "Spartak" is unique in its dietary composition; it contains the maximum amount of essential oils and vitamins.
This variety of arugula can be grown in heated greenhouses, which will allow you to harvest greens all year round.
How to grow arugula
In the Russian climate, salad crops can be grown in several ways:
- In the southern regions or the temperate climate of the middle zone, the method of planting seeds directly in the beds is quite suitable. In order for the seeds to hatch and the first shoots to appear, the ground must warm up to 9-16 degrees. This temperature in central Russia is established mainly by mid-April - early May. During this period, arugula seeds are sown for open ground. The best varieties for such plantings are early ripening ones.After three weeks, when the first eruka plantings have matured, you can collect the seeds and sow the arugula again. So, during one season it is possible to grow several harvests of salad greens, and always have fresh arugula on the table.
- In northern regions, where springs are long and cold, the ripening of eruka can be accelerated by planting seeds in protected soil. The beds are prepared in advance (two to three weeks in advance), the soil is dug up, and weeds, pour boiling water over the soil to disinfect. Seeds are sown in the same way as in open ground - with an interval between rows of 35-40 cm, and between seeds - 2-3 cm. In greenhouses and greenhouses, arugula is grown all year round.
- The seedling method is suitable for those who want to further accelerate the ripening of green salad. To do this, seeds are sown in cups, pots or boxes. The germination rate of arugula seeds is quite high, so there is no need to soak or pre-germinate them. The seeds are deepened no more than 1.5 cm into the ground (ordinary garden soil or any seedling mixture that is sold in agricultural stores will do). After 4-5 days, the first shoots already appear. When the plants have two true leaves, they are dropped into peat or disposable cups. The grown seedlings are transferred to the beds or to the greenhouse; arugula should be replanted together with a lump of earth. The distance between bushes should be at least 15-20 cm.
- Another way to get tasty greens is to grow arugula on a windowsill or balcony. This plant is very unpretentious; eruka does not need special conditions or complex care. Greens grow at a temperature of 18-20 degrees, they need to be well watered and ripe leaves should be cut off in time. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes, observing a certain interval.After 25-30 days, you can harvest the first harvest, and in order to enjoy the greens longer, arugula seeds are re-sown in other pots.
This is done when the plants have two leaves. About 15-20 cm are left between adjacent sprouts, the rest are pulled out (they can be used for salads and other dishes).
Gardeners claim that too thick plantings worsen the taste and nutritional characteristics of arugula - the plants do not have enough water and microelements from the soil.
Beneficial features
Regardless of the variety, arugula has a number of useful and even medicinal properties. Eruka is a good “doctor” for many diseases:
- stomach or intestinal ulcers;
- predisposition to cancer;
- some kidney and bladder diseases;
- skin diseases and hematomas;
- reduced immunity;
- anemia;
- iodine deficiency;
- vitamin deficiency and scurvy.
This greenery contains a high content of essential oils and flavonoids, which significantly increases the risk of developing an allergic reaction. Pregnant and nursing mothers should also be careful.
Such a large number of medicinal properties is explained by the rich composition of arugula. It contains not only flavonoids and alkaloids that prevent the development of cancer and other serious diseases, but also a lot of vitamins and minerals, such as:
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iodine;
- iron;
- magnesium;
- steroids;
- acetic and malic acid;
- mustard oil;
- vitamins C and B.
Due to the fact that arugula has a very pleasant spicy taste, it can be added to almost any dish.So getting all the useful vitamins and microelements will not be difficult.
Rules for caring for arugula plantings
Caring for arugula plantings is, in principle, simple. But failure to follow simple rules will inevitably lead to a deterioration in the taste of these salad greens.
In order for arugula to have a delicate taste and spicy aroma, the following conditions must be observed when growing it:
- Arugula seeds of any variety can be bought in specialized stores, or you can collect them yourself from your own harvest.
- The optimal temperature for growing arugula is considered to be in the range of 14-18 degrees. Based on this, you need to choose the method of planting greenery and the place where it is grown.
- Some varieties of arugula seedlings can withstand temperatures down to -7 degrees. However, tender greens will not tolerate prolonged frosts. If there is a risk of frost, it is better to cover the eruka with film or agrofibre (at least overnight).
- You need to water the beds often, almost every day. The soil near the arugula should always be slightly moist. If this rule is not followed, the greens become bitter and fade into color.
- The looseness of the soil is also important. After each watering, the beds must be fluffed with a hoe, so the roots of the eruca will receive the necessary amount of air and oxygen.
- You need to fertilize the bushes once or twice during the entire growing season. Considering that arugula fully ripens in three to four weeks, it cannot be fertilized with mineral and organic preparations. Toxins will accumulate in the leaves and will not have time to decompose in such a short period.You need to fertilize eruka with a nitrogen composition, adding it to the beds along with watering. Also suitable dissolved in water chicken droppings or rotted cow dung.
- Only very nutritious soils should not be fertilized. If arugula does not receive all the necessary microelements, its composition will also become poorer - it will no longer be so useful.
- The soil for growing eruca must have a high calcium content, so the soil must be limed before sowing the seeds.
- When growing arugula, it is important to observe crop rotation: it is best to plant greens in the place where pumpkin crops, legumes, carrots, and potatoes grew last season. However, you should avoid beds where cabbage and other cruciferous crops have been grown for three years. Arugula and these plants have the same diseases that can be transmitted through contaminated soil.
- Mature eruca leaves must be cut at the right time, otherwise they will become tough and bitter in taste. You can determine maturity by the length of the leaf - optimally it should reach 10 cm.
All varieties of arugula tolerate the domestic climate well, so they can be grown simply in garden beds. To avoid going to the supermarket for greens in winter, you can plant eruka on a windowsill or in a heated greenhouse.
