French Arugula Seeds

French Arugula, also known as garden rocket or gharghir (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa), is a fast annual leafy green from the mustard family prized for its bold peppery bite and warm, nutty aroma. Its deeply lobed, tender green leaves bring a fresh, slightly spicy lift to salads, sandwiches, pizzas and pesto, and the four-petalled cream flowers that appear at bolting are edible too. This cool-season favourite is one of the quickest greens you can grow.

Planting

Sow seed shallowly, around 0.6 cm deep, spacing seeds roughly 2.5 cm apart in the row, or broadcast for a cut-and-come-again patch. Seeds sprout in cool soil between about 4 C and 13 C, with seedlings emerging in 5-7 days. Grow in full sun (6 or more hours daily) or partial shade. In Egypt, sow from autumn through early spring (roughly September to February) within the 12-20 C range; avoid hot June-July, when long days force bitter bolting. Thin to 7.6-15 cm apart for full plants.

Fertilizing

Enrich the soil with compost or organic matter before sowing. As a quick leafy crop, side-dress with a nitrogen-rich feed such as compost, fish emulsion or blood meal, or apply a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during growth. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen, which gives lush but weaker-flavoured leaves.

Care

Keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, giving about 2.5 cm of water weekly and more frequent light watering in heat to keep leaves tender and delay bolting. Prefers rich, well-drained soil at pH 6.0-8.0. Watch for flea beetles and aphids, plus downy and powdery mildew. Harvest young leaves within about 3-4 weeks; sow every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply.