Oregon · Washington · Idaho
When to plant arugula
Plant in the garden: Portland and Seattle Mar 1 – Apr 12; Spokane Apr 1 – May 13; Boise Mar 20 – May 1; Bend Apr 28 – Jun 9.
Your dates in
Arugula, also called rocket, is a fast, peppery cabbage-family green eaten raw in salads or tossed onto pizza and pasta at the last minute. Baby leaves are the mildest; leaves get hotter as plants age and as the weather warms. Wild (sylvetta) arugula is a slower, longer-lived cousin with smaller, deeply cut leaves.
Puts arugula on your free plan, with dates for your town and a spot in your beds.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- Thin to 4 inches apart
- Planting depth
- ¼ inch deep
- Frost
- Handles light frost
- First harvest
- About 35 days after planting
Fast and frost-tolerant. It bolts in heat, so sow small batches in spring and again in late summer.
Arugula planting dates
| Towns | Plant in the garden | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR, Seattle and Tacoma, WA | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 24 – Sep 14 |
| Boise and Meridian, ID | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Bend and Redmond, OR | Apr 28 – Jun 9 | Jul 27 – Aug 17 |
| Astoria, OR | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
Dates for six main cities. For any of the other 80 towns, type it in the box at the top of the page or browse all towns.
| Gresham, OR, Oregon City and West Linn, OR, Portland, OR, St. Helens and Scappoose, OR, Wilsonville and Canby, OR | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR | Mar 5 – Apr 16 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Corvallis and Albany, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Cottage Grove, OR | Mar 13 – Apr 24 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| McMinnville and Newberg, OR | Mar 4 – Apr 15 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Ashland and Talent, OR | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 20 – Sep 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass, OR, Medford, OR, Roseburg, OR | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Astoria, OR, Brookings and Gold Beach, OR, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Newport and Lincoln City, OR, Tillamook, OR | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|
| Bend and Redmond, OR | Apr 28 – Jun 9 | Jul 27 – Aug 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Burns, OR | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jul 19 – Aug 9 |
| Klamath Falls, OR | Apr 28 – Jun 9 | Jul 31 – Aug 21 |
| Lakeview, OR | Apr 23 – Jun 4 | Jul 30 – Aug 20 |
| Madras, OR | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
| Prineville, OR | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 4–25 |
| Baker City, OR | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Jul 28 – Aug 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise and Joseph, OR | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 |
| Hermiston, OR | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 22 – Sep 12 |
| Hood River, OR | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 25 – Sep 15 |
| John Day, OR | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Jul 31 – Aug 21 |
| La Grande, OR | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 |
| Ontario, OR | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 26 – Sep 16 |
| Pendleton, OR, The Dalles, OR | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA, Everett, WA, Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | Mar 18 – Apr 29 | Aug 26 – Sep 16 |
| Shelton, WA | Mar 16 – Apr 27 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Anacortes, WA, Bellingham, WA, Friday Harbor and the San Juans, WA, Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA, Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, WA | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|
| Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, Forks, WA, Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Port Angeles, WA, Port Townsend, WA | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Sequim, WA | Mar 10 – Apr 21 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Centralia and Chehalis, WA | Mar 11 – Apr 22 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Longview and Kelso, WA, Vancouver, WA | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Chelan, WA, Wenatchee, WA | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 12 – Sep 2 |
| Omak and Okanogan, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 19 – Sep 9 |
| Winthrop and Twisp, WA | Apr 3 – May 15 | Aug 4–25 |
| Ellensburg, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 19 – Sep 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Ephrata and Quincy, WA, Walla Walla, WA | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Goldendale, WA | Apr 7 – May 19 | Aug 7–28 |
| Moses Lake, WA | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 20 – Sep 10 |
| Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser, WA | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 18 – Sep 8 |
| Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 23 – Sep 13 |
| Yakima, WA | Mar 27 – May 8 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
| Colville, WA, Pullman, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 14 – Sep 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 24 – Sep 14 |
| Bonners Ferry, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| Sandpoint, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 10–31 |
| Lewiston, ID | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Moscow, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 14 – Sep 4 |
| Boise and Meridian, ID, Emmett, ID | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
|---|---|---|
| McCall, ID | May 11 – Jun 22 | Jul 15 – Aug 5 |
| Nampa and Caldwell, ID | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 25 – Sep 15 |
| Burley and Rupert, ID, Twin Falls, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 16 – Sep 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 |
| Pocatello, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 23 – Sep 13 |
| Rexburg, ID | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 6–27 |
| Salmon, ID | Apr 20 – Jun 1 | Aug 6–27 |
Arugula year at a glance
| Task | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Mar | Apr | Aug | Sep | ||||||||
| Harvest | Apr | May | Jun | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Around Portland. Colder towns, especially east of the Cascades, run a few weeks later; the table above has your town's planting dates.
How to grow arugula
- Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
- Plant seeds on your city's dates, ¼ inch deep, Thin to 4 inches apart.
- Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
- Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
- Harvest: Pick leaves when they're 2 to 3 inches long, about three weeks after sowing. Young leaves are the mildest.
Growing arugula in your part of the Northwest
The same plant behaves differently on the wet west side, the foggy coast and the dry, colder east side.
West-side valleys
Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, southern Oregon
Arugula is easy in spring and fall, and fall sowings often keep going into winter. Flea beetles chew holes in spring, so use row cover.
Coast
Oregon and Washington coast
Cool summers let arugula keep growing longer before it bolts.
East of the Cascades
Columbia Basin, Yakima, Boise, Spokane, north Idaho
Heat makes arugula bolt and turn very peppery, so sow early in spring and again in late summer. Flea beetles are worst in hot, dry weather.
High desert and mountain towns
Central Oregon, high eastern Oregon valleys, McCall, Salmon
Arugula handles frost and grows well in the cool summers. Sow small amounts often.
More arugula varieties
More widely sold picks that do well somewhere in the Northwest. The tag says which part of the Northwest suits each one best.
Astro
Fast-growing with slightly milder, less peppery leaves than common arugula. It tolerates warm weather a bit better, so it is a good choice for late spring sowings.
Both sides
Wild arugula
Narrow, deeply lobed leaves with a strong, peppery bite. Slower to start but much slower to bolt, and plants often come back the next year in west-side gardens.
Both sides
Rocket
The common arugula, also called roquette, with broad, nutty, peppery leaves. Sow small batches every few weeks in spring and again in late summer for a steady supply.
Both sides
Apollo
Large, rounded leaves with a mild flavor and quick, vigorous growth. It is well suited to cut-and-come-again harvests in cool spring and fall weather.
Both sides
How much to grow
How many to plant
For a family of four, a 3- to 4-foot row every two to three weeks.
What to expect
About 1 pound per 2 feet of row over a few cuttings.
Storing the harvest
Keeps about five days in a bag in the fridge.
What to plant after arugula
Around Portland, the arugula harvest wraps up around June. These crops can still go into the same bed, and they come from a different plant family, which helps with rotation.
- Bush beans May 10 – Jun 21
- Sweet corn May 10 – Jun 14
- Pole beans May 10 – Jun 14
- Cucumbers May 15 – Jun 12
- Zucchini and summer squash May 15 – Jun 12
- Tomatoes May 15 – Jun 12
- Tomatillos May 15 – Jun 12
- Celery May 15 – Jun 19
Bush beans 
Sweet corn 
Pole beans 
Cucumbers 
Zucchini and summer squash 
Tomatoes 
Tomatillos 
Celery Portland dates. Pick your town at the top of the page for yours.
Key numbers
- 40–85°FSoil to sprout
- 6.0–7.0Soil pH
- About 3–5 weeksDays to harvest
- Flea beetlesBiggest risk
Top care tip: Sow a little every two or three weeks and pick young leaves before the plants flower.
Growing notes
What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.
Soil and sowing
Arugula isn't fussy. Ordinary garden soil with a little compost and a pH of about 6.0 to 7.0 grows it well. It sprouts in cool soil, often within a week, so it's one of the first crops you can sow in spring. Scatter seed thinly, cover lightly, and keep the soil moist. Thin plants to about 4 inches apart and eat the thinnings. Steady moisture keeps leaves tender and mild; dry soil makes them tough and peppery.
Why arugula bolts and gets spicy
Arugula is a cool-season green that flowers as days get long and warm. Heat and drought speed this up and make the leaves sharper. Sow small batches every two or three weeks in spring, take a break in midsummer or give it afternoon shade, then sow again in late summer for fall. Fall arugula is often the best, and west of the Cascades it can last well into winter under row cover. Wild arugula (Sylvetta) grows slower, handles heat better and often comes back from the roots.
Flea beetles and harvest
Flea beetles are tiny black beetles that jump like fleas and chew small round holes in leaves, especially in warm spring weather. Lay row cover on right after sowing and seal the edges; damage drops off once plants grow fast or the weather cools. Pick leaves when 2 to 3 inches long, cutting outer leaves or shearing the whole patch an inch above the soil to regrow. If plants bolt, the small white flowers are edible and mild. Store leaves in a sealed container in the fridge for several days.
Good neighbors and crop rotation
Good neighbors
- Lettuce and spinach. Same cool-season needs.
- Peas. Shade from the trellis slows bolting.
Keep apart
- Other cabbage-family crops in the same bed every year. Shared pests build up; rotate.
Cabbage family: Grow cabbage-family crops in a different bed each year and come back to the same spot only every three or four years. Clubroot, which swells and knots the roots, lives in the soil for many years once it arrives, and root maggot pupae wait in last year's bed.
Pests and problems
What most often goes wrong with arugula in Northwest gardens, how to spot it and what to do.
Flea beetles
Signs: Tiny holes in the leaves.
What to do: Row cover from sowing.
Bolting
Signs: Flower stalks and hot, tough leaves.
What to do: Sow in spring and late summer; it bolts in summer heat.
Common questions about growing arugula
When should I plant arugula in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?
Plant in the garden: Mar 1 – Apr 12 in Portland and Seattle, Apr 1 – May 13 in Spokane, Mar 20 – May 1 in Boise and Apr 28 – Jun 9 in Bend. Pick your town at the top of the page for your own dates.
What is making tiny holes in my arugula?
Flea beetles. They're worst in spring. Cover seedlings with floating row cover from sowing day, and keep plants growing quickly with steady water.
Why is my arugula so bitter?
Heat, dry soil, and age all make arugula stronger. Pick leaves young and keep the soil moist. Spring and fall crops are mildest.
Does arugula grow back after cutting?
Yes, if you cut an inch or so above the crown, it will regrow for a few more harvests. Production slows once the plant starts to bolt. Sow a fresh batch every few weeks for a steady supply.
See what else to plant in March, April, August or September.
Lettuce
Spinach
Swiss chard
Mâche
Radicchio