Arugula is a green leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, it is also known by the names Roquette and Rucoli. This vegetable is native to Greece or Italy, however, its popularity has grown in western countries, throughout Europe and Asia.
Arugula is a low-calorie, nutrient-rich food with many great effects on human health. So this vegetable is growing in popularity and is loved by many gardeners for growing in the garden.
Arugula vegetables are also relatively easy to grow, care for and prepare dishes. However, there is an issue that many gardeners are concerned with and that is the amount of water the Arugula plant needs each day.
How much water does Arugula need? Does watering too little or too much affect the taste of this vegetable? All will have detailed answers in this article.
How Much Water Does Arugula Need?
For all plants and vegetables, water is the most important element to sustain life and growth. However, for Arugula vegetables, watering also determines the taste of this vegetable, so many people always seek the question of how much water is enough for Arugula.
1. How Much Water Is Enough?
If Arugula vegetables are watered well and always have enough water to grow and develop, they will have a delicious, crunchy, and sweet taste. On the contrary, if there is not enough water, Arugula vegetables will often be chewy, not crispy, and sweet and dry when enjoyed.
You will not be able to find any specific answer to this problem, because watering Arugula vegetables depends on many objective factors such as climate, rainfall, soil type, drainage, or space.
Therefore, to know exactly how much water is enough for Arugula vegetables is impossible to give exact numbers. However, in the experience of many gardeners, most arugula will need at least 1 inch of water per week.
Ideally, you should water ½ cup of water per day for every 6 inches of plant height if the climate is normal and the soil is dry.
2. When To Water Arugula Vegetables?
You may not know the exact amount of water to water your arugula each day as it depends on the hot weather or rain and the moisture in the soil. So you should watch for some signs of arugula to water as needed.
- Withered leaves, drooping plants: For any plant, when there is a lack of water, there is a phenomenon of wilting and drooping leaves. Therefore, you need to quickly water more to prevent the plant from being severely dehydrated and dying.
- Dry soil: You can test the moisture in the soil by poking the soil about half an inch with your finger. If you feel the soil is dry, water gradually because arugula have shallow roots, they will quickly absorb water from the surface.
- During extreme weather: If you live in areas with high temperatures, you should water regularly in the morning and evening to ensure that the Arugula is getting enough water. They have shallow roots so they also quickly lose water because they can’t get water from deep within the soil.
- Clay: Arugula is a vegetable that can thrive in all types of soil. However, they will grow best when planted in sandy or loamy soil. A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is best. So, if you grow in an area with a lot of clay, you should water more often because clay soils dry out quickly and don’t hold as much water as loamy soils.
Read more: Is It Bad to Water Plants at Night?
What Is The Relationship Between Light And Water For Arugula?
Arugula is a sun-loving plant, so if grown in full sun, the amount of water for Arugula will also have to be replenished to avoid wilting.
Normally, Arugula needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so if the temperature is too high, Arugula also needs more water than usual. Therefore, you need to ensure enough water or else the Arugula will turn yellow and die after a few weeks.
However, Arugula is suitable for cooler weather but they cannot grow fully in the shade, so they still need natural light every day to photosynthesize. So, you should not grow them in the shade instead of the light areas so they will be watered every day.
Conclusion
Arugula is a vegetable that prefers sunlight and plenty of water for normal growth and development. Watering also depends on many factors such as temperature, area, rain or soil conditions, and drainage.
You should check the moisture in the soil before watering and observe the condition of the leaves and stems. If the Arugula leaves turn yellow or wilt, you should immediately add water to prevent the plant from dying.
If you want to learn more about growing arugula, don’t miss the helpful articles here.