Arugula
Eruca vesicaria
Also known asRocket · Roquette · Rucola · Italian cress · Garden rocket
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–11 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- frost hardy
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: light.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Net pot, no medium (Bare-root) | - | - | - |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.6 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.1 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
One of the fastest, easiest hydroponic greens. Hold EC around 0.8-1.4 mS/cm and pH 6.0-7.0. It is a cool-season crop, best at 10–22°C, and bolts fast above about 24°C. Keep light moderate, roughly 10-14 mol/m2/day, since strong light hastens bolting. Baby leaves come in three to four weeks from seed, full leaves in five to six. It does well in NFT, deep water culture, vertical towers and raft systems. Sow a fresh batch every couple of weeks for a steady supply, and cut-and-come-again harvesting stretches each planting. Younger leaves taste best; older ones turn more bitter and pungent, and repeated cutting also pushes up the bite. Flea beetles can be a pest in open greenhouses, so fine mesh netting helps. Wild arugula grows slower but tolerates heat and holds longer before bolting. With its shallow roots and low feeding demand it suits aquaponics even at modest fish loading, turns over quickly, and works as a microgreen picked at the cotyledon stage around seven to ten days from seed.