Horti Tops® Rocket (Eruca Sativa)

Rocket (Eruca Sativa) (Eruca sativa)

The Salad with Personality

Arugula (rocket) brings bold, peppery flavor to the salad bowl. While most salad greens are mild background players, arugula demands attention with its spicy, slightly nutty bite. A little goes a long way, making it perfect for mixing with milder greens.

Controlling the Heat

Young leaves are milder: Baby arugula has gentler flavor. Mature leaves are more intensely peppery.

Heat intensifies flavor: Arugula grown in hot weather becomes almost too spicy. Spring and fall plantings are milder.

Cooking mellows: While usually eaten raw, wilted arugula loses some heat and becomes more mellow.

Classic Uses

Pizza topping: Add fresh arugula to pizza after it comes from the oven. The heat slightly wilts the leaves.

Pasta: Toss hot pasta with arugula, lemon, olive oil, and Parmesan. The arugula wilts slightly.

Salad: Mix with milder greens, or combine with Parmesan, lemon, and olive oil for a classic Italian salad.

Pesto: Arugula pesto is wonderfully peppery – substitute for half or all of the basil.

Growing Tips

Arugula is one of the easiest and fastest salad greens. Direct sow every few weeks for continuous harvest. Cut leaves when small and the plants regrow for multiple harvests. It bolts quickly in hot weather, so focus on spring and fall.

Growing Rocket (Eruca Sativa)