Growing Arugula in Zone 8A

Arugula is the fastest salad green in the garden. Its peppery, nutty flavor is best when harvested young, and it’s ready to eat in as little as 30 days from seed.

Zone 8A enjoys a long growing season. You can often get two plantings of cool-season crops (spring and fall).

Top Growing Tips

• Direct sow in early spring 6 weeks before last frost — no starting indoors needed
• Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest before summer heat
• Sow again in late summer/early fall for a second season
• Harvest at 3-4 inches for baby arugula; let it grow to 6+ inches for full flavor
• Allow a plant to flower and set seed for self-sowing in future seasons

Companion Planting

Good companions: lettuce, spinach, herbs, cucumbers

Avoid planting near: fennel (allelopathic — inhibits growth of nearby plants)

Harvest Timeline

30-40 days from seed; cut leaves 1 inch above soil level for regrowth

About Zone 8A

USDA Hardiness Zone 8A has an average last spring frost around Mar 20 and first fall frost around Nov 10. All planting dates above are calculated from these frost dates. Your specific location may vary — check with your local extension office for the most accurate dates.