The best types and varieties of perennial arugula for growing in open ground and greenhouses, features of planting and caring for the plant

Perennial arugula is a favorite green of many gardeners and comes in a large number of varieties. Thanks to its incredible taste, it can add mustard-nut notes to the finished dish. Nutrition experts advise including greens in your diet daily, as they are very beneficial. Bunches of the aromatic crop can be bought at the market at the end of May or grown in the garden and windowsill.

Description and beneficial properties of arugula

The plant is a relative of mustard and cabbage. It has many other names, which can often be found in descriptions of dishes or articles about arugula. Rocket lettuce, arugula, caterpillar, inda, eruca, and reveler are the same thing. Greens are also commonly called indau.

Lettuce leaves are rich in vitamin B and C, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium and folic acid. These components together strengthen the human immune system, destroying harmful bacteria. Flavonoids in the composition make the walls of blood vessels strong and elastic. Arugula is an excellent medicine for those suffering from stomach diseases. Regular consumption does not allow cancer cells to grow.

Rocket salad has the ability to calm the nervous system, so it is recommended for hot-tempered people. Greens lower cholesterol levels and remove excess fluid from the body. Diet lovers do not ignore the plant with a nutty taste, as arugula promotes weight loss and maintaining beauty. 100 g of product contains only 25 calories.

Acting inside the body, it improves the appearance of hair and strengthens nails. Arugula is not only eaten, but also used to make masks and other care products. It is useful to include it in a face mask. Has a rejuvenating effect, making the skin elastic.

Arugula varieties

Among the existing varieties of arugula, annual and perennial varieties are distinguished. They are intended for greenhouses and open ground. In order not to have to plant lettuce every year, it is better to choose perennial varieties. The root system tolerates winter well, and greenery appears in early spring.

Breeders have developed many varieties of arugula.All that are presented on the market are suitable for gardeners living in the Moscow region. They have similar characteristics, but differ in taste and appearance. Among the large number of types of arugula, everyone can choose what they like.

Cupid's Arrow variety

Included in the group of mid-season varieties. Suitable for consumption 4 weeks after the sprouts appear. The height of the culture rosette is 22 cm. The peculiarity of arugula is its late bolting and preservation of good presentation.

The leaves of Cupid's Arrows are wavy and have a rich green color. They are raised above the ground and form a uniform rosette. During the flowering period, yellow flowers appear on the plant. From 1 sq. m per season, up to 3 kg of greenery is collected.

Variety Dikovina

In the descriptions of the varieties Cupid's Arrow and Dikovina, you can find a lot in common. The bushes reach a height of 20 cm. The plant is covered with medium-sized leaves. The color is green, the surface is smooth, without roughness.

The weight of one Curiosity bush ranges from 20 g. Blooming arugula flowers have a creamy hue and are covered with brown veins. Indau forms the arrow quite late. The culture grows well in soils with high humidity. It continues to produce greens until the onset of cold weather, since it is able to retain its nutritional qualities for a long time.

Variety Olivetta

Holds the record for the appearance of green leaves. From the moment the sprouts appear until harvest, only 3 weeks pass. At the same time, the height of the plant is 25 cm. The leaves are heavily dissected and colored green.

When you eat arugula, you feel a bitter taste. Fresh herbs give off a spicy aroma. The yellow flowers of Olivetta produce small light brown seeds, similar to poppy seeds.The yield is not very high - about 2 kg of greenery is harvested from a small plot.

Variety Rocket

Another representative of early ripening varieties. The dark green leaves have a wavy shape, and the plant itself is finely toothed. A delicate mustard aroma emanates from the leaves. After pruning, new ones appear on the bush, having the same bitter-sharp taste.

Rocket leaves are rich in vitamin C. Suitable for growing in open and closed soil. Used for preparing various dishes. These can be simple appetizers or complex main courses.

Variety Victoria

It is recommended to prune greenery 3 weeks after sprouts appear. The variety is considered universal, since arugula can be planted in a greenhouse and sown in open ground. The height of the rosette is average - from 15 to 25 cm. The leaves cover the bush and are slightly raised above the soil.

The culture has a rich green color with light veins. When cut into a dish, there is a strong aroma. Thanks to its nutty-mustard taste, it goes well with vegetables, meats and cheeses. It is considered a dietary product. Arugula Victoria is a real source of vital minerals, vitamins and other equally useful substances.

Poker variety

It is very popular among greenery lovers. The early ripening variety is characterized by excellent taste. Forms the basis for salads and light dishes with fish and meat. Peak cultivation occurs in mid-summer.

The arugula variety Poker is not like other representatives of greenery, since the bush has a branched stem. Thanks to this feature, the plant reaches a height of up to 1 m. With the help of green leaves, a rosette is formed up to 25 cm in height. Leaves are periodically cut off for use, and new ones grow in their place.

In greenhouse conditions, the rosette has only 12 leaves.In open soil the amount increases by 2 times. Arugula flowers have a pale cream color. The yield is not very high, despite the fact that the variety is considered early.

Variety Solitaire

It was bred by breeders back in 2007. Since then, it has taken pride of place on the plots of many gardeners. It tolerates winter well in open ground, producing green shoots in early spring. It takes 20 to 30 days to ripen.

The neat green leaves of Solitaire have cuts along the edges. At the end of the growing season, the plant forms delicate yellow flowers. The aroma of greenery is very strong, the taste has mustard and nutty notes. Arugula is suitable for the conveyor growing method.

Variety Spartak

Arugula is rich in vitamins and essential oils. The complex of vitamins B and C increases hemoglobin and helps reduce salt deposits. It tolerates severe cold, and this does not affect the culture in any way. It produces green mass early, so it is possible to prepare dishes from fresh herbs. The height of the bush is not very large - only 18-23 cm.

How to grow arugula

Lettuce can be grown in two ways - in greenhouses and open ground.

In greenhouse conditions

Since the land is protected, this will ensure a full year's worth of arugula. An important condition for a greenhouse is temperature. The pointer should not fall below 16 degrees. If sunny days are far behind, the salad needs artificial lighting using special lamps.

Preparing the soil before sowing:

1. Carry out the loosening procedure to a depth of 20 cm.
2. Clear the beds of weeds and residues of other crops.
3. After 12 days, do plowing.In this way, it will be possible to destroy weeds that have entered the deeper layers of the soil.
4. Carry out harrowing. This allows moisture to remain in the soil for a long time.

At first glance, it may seem that the pre-sowing stages are complicated, but this is not so. If you follow the instructions, a person will succeed. As a result, seedlings will appear, and eventually an adult crop.

Open ground

Many gardeners and summer residents practice this particular method of growing crops. Lettuce seeds are sown from mid-spring to the end of August. The procedure is repeated every 10 days to always have fresh greens. If summer days are very hot, choose an area that is in the shade. Arugula does not tolerate direct sunlight.

The procedure for sowing seeds in open ground is the same as in greenhouse conditions. It is recommended to follow these rules:

• the distance between rows should be within 45 cm;
• deepen the seed material into the soil no more than 1.5 cm;
• there should be at least 5 cm of free space around the plant.

The density of sowing negatively affects the growth of each bush. Excess sprouts are removed when they have 2 leaves.

Obtaining seedlings

Growing by seedlings is also possible. To do this, take individual cups or a large pot. In the latter case, 30 pieces are sown. 2-3 seeds should be planted in each glass to select the strongest sprout and transplant into open soil.

Shoots appear very quickly. When the seedlings are strong enough, they are transferred to a permanent place in open ground along with a lump of earth. For normal development, a temperature of 9 degrees is sufficient. To protect young seedlings from the cold, the sprouts are covered with jars and removed in the morning.

Growing on a windowsill

An excellent alternative for city dwellers who do not have land. If there is a balcony, this is only a plus, since pots of herbs can be taken out into the fresh air. It is recommended not to plant many sprouts in one box. It is better to choose only one container for each bush. A special requirement that a person must comply with when growing arugula on the windowsill, encloses in a box - its depth should not exceed 10 cm.

Rules for caring for arugula plantings

Eruka leaves begin to be picked off when they reach 10 cm in length. This contributes to the renewal of the culture, due to which new leaves appear. If the greens are overgrown, it will affect their appearance and taste.

Succulent leaves lose their attractiveness and become tough with a lot of fiber. They are no longer suitable for consumption.

New leaves will appear if the crop is constantly watered. It especially needs abundant watering on hot days. Not every gardener adheres to this rule. Lack of moisture changes the taste of arugula as it becomes very bitter.

When watering, do not pour water directly onto the plant. It must be sprayed so that the soil absorbs water evenly. For this purpose, use a watering can. If we are talking about large plots of land with arugula, sprinklers will come in handy.

Place a hose between the lettuce beds and moisten the soil as needed. As a rule, this is done in the morning and evening, after the heat subsides. In addition to watering, the soil needs to be fluffed up. This promotes better penetration of air masses and moisture to the roots of the plant.

Fertilizer application

As for feeding, it is carried out twice per season.Fertilizers are applied simultaneously with watering the plants. Substances for feeding are selected based on the period of ripening of the greens. Since it is released over a long period of time, manure and other mineral fertilizers are not used. Otherwise, the green mass will accumulate large amounts of toxic substances.

It is best to use nitrogen-based fertilizers. Chicken or cow droppings are perfect for this. It is necessary to dilute in accordance with the proportions. For 25 g of substance take at least 10 liters of water.

The salad plant has many names - arugula, indau, eruka and others. For many centuries it has been known in many countries. It is valued not only for its taste, but also for its beneficial properties and the ability to be used in medicine and cosmetology. Growing it does not take much time, and it can also be done on the windowsill. If a gardener tries arugula at least once, he will no longer be able to refuse it.