Arugula 'Rocket Salad'

Family: Brassicaceae Leafy Green

Peppery and vividly bright, Arugula ‘Rocket Salad’ delivers a lively, rocket-sharp flavor with a clean, tender bite that feels crisp even when young.

The leaves form an upright, compact rosette of deep green foliage—slender, ruffled, and richly textured—ideal for fresh, quick harvests and for adding bold character to salads, garnishes, and zesty sauces. Grow it for a fast 40-day turnaround and enjoy a steady rhythm of flavorful greens throughout the season.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 40 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Arugula 'Rocket Salad'

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 4th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	40
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

With its upright, ruffled leaves and that unmistakable peppery snap, this arugula wants quick contact—acid, heat, or fat for just long enough to soften edges without turning bitter. It’s the kind of green you finish with, so it stays crisp and lively against salty cheese and cured meats.

Best Uses

shoestring salads where it stays crisp under vinaigrette
pizza/flatbread finishers (added after baking to keep bite)
quick wilt in hot pasta with olive oil and lemon—no long cook
micro-greens garnish for soups and crostini

Flavor Profile

rocket-sharp pepper bite vivid green, slightly nutty bitterness tender-crisp leaves with ruffled texture

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil parmesan garlic balsamic vinegar prosciutto

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for arugula 'Rocket Salad', and how do I manage it?

Arugula commonly gets downy mildew and leaf spots during cool, humid weather, showing as yellow patches on top leaves and fuzzy growth underneath. Remove and discard affected leaves, improve airflow by thinning plants to about 6–8 in (15–20 cm) apart, and water at the soil line (not over the foliage). If conditions stay wet, use a labeled copper-based fungicide early at the first spotting to protect new growth.

How often should I water arugula 'Rocket Salad' during its main growing period?

From sowing through the 40-day harvest window, keep the top 1 in (2–3 cm) of soil consistently evenly moist—water when it begins to dry at that depth, usually every 1–3 days depending on your weather. Avoid letting it dry out completely, because stress quickly makes arugula bitter and can trigger early bolting; in warm part-sun spots, check more frequently. Mulch lightly (thin layer) to reduce moisture swings without smothering the shallow-rooted plants.

How can I tell when arugula 'Rocket Salad' is ready to harvest?

Harvest when leaves are 6–8 in (15–20 cm) tall and the individual leaves are firm, flavorful, and about 25–40 days after sowing (often within the ~40-day mark). You can start “cut-and-come-again” by snipping outer leaves with scissors, leaving the center to regrow, or pull whole plants at once for a single harvest. If leaves start looking small and the plant shoots up with a flowering stalk, harvest immediately because new growth turns more peppery and can become tough.