Arugula is a vegetable with a distinctive flavor and is often used as a seasoning in many dishes such as salads, pizza, or sandwiches. This vegetable is rich in nutrients and vitamins that help prevent cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Therefore, many people love growing Arugula indoors and using it as a spice for everyday dishes.
Arugula are vegetables that grow quickly and can be harvested after only 25 to 50 days from sowing. Therefore, many gardeners want to find ways to extend the harvest time of this vegetable. Will Arugula grow back after cutting? How to prolong the harvest and preserve Arugula for a long time? Join us to find out in the article below.
Does Arugula Grow Back?
Yes, Arugula can grow back after cutting if you harvest it properly and at the right time.
You can harvest Arugula in its young or mature form. You can start harvesting the leaves of Arugula when the plant has three or more rows of leaves and the leaves are about 2 inches long. The flavor of young Arugula leaves will be less intense and spicy than mature leaves. Therefore, young leaves will be suitable as a spice in salads.
The key to extending Arugula harvests into the future is to pick each leaf one at a time and no more than â…“ of the leaves on a vegetable plant at a time. You can start harvesting the first leaves when the vegetable plant has three rows of leaves and the outer leaves are about 2 inches long. Pick the outer leaves or closest to the base gently to avoid damaging the plant’s stem and roots.
The interval between each Arugula leaf harvest is about a week. During this time, the Arugula tree will continue to grow new leaves for the next harvest without affecting the growth rate and quality of the Arugula leaves. In the ideal climate, you can harvest about ten batches of Arugula leaves before the plant becomes senescent and ends its natural life cycle.
When the Arugula plant sprouts or forms a flower stalk, the leaves will have a woody texture and a bitter taste. Although many people can still eat them, most people will stop harvesting Arugula during this time. If you want to get Arugula seeds, continue to care for them until they plant flowers and fruits. On the contrary, if you do not intend to get Arugula seeds, uproot the plant and start a new crop.
How To Preserve Fresh Arugula?
You should preserve fresh Arugula by placing them in a plastic bag or plastic container in the refrigerator or in a glass jar with an inch of water.
Preserve vegetables in the refrigerator: If you harvest too much Arugula and don’t consume it all, you can wrap it with a damp paper or towel. Then, put them in a plastic bag or plastic box and preserve them in the refrigerator. This method will help preserve fresh Arugula leaves for about five days or longer.
Preserve in a glass jar: Another way to help you preserve Arugula leaves is to put the leaves or the entire plant with roots in a glass jar and add 1 inch of water. This method will help keep fresh Arugula leaves for about a week if you change the water regularly.
How To Preserve Arugula For Several Months Or A Year?
You can preserve Arugula for several months by pureeing the leaves and putting them in the freezer. Or blanch the leaves in boiling water for 30 seconds and freeze the leaves in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life for up to a year.
Puree the leaves and freeze: You can find many different methods to preserve Arugula leaves for several months. However, the simplest and most effective method is to puree the leaves, put the mixture in a plastic bag or plastic tray, and store it in the freezer. This method will help preserve Arugula for about 5-6 months. When using, you only need to defrost at normal temperature and enjoy the delicious taste of this vegetable.
Blanch and freeze Arugula leaves: If you want to preserve Arugula for a longer period of time, you should use the method of blanching the leaves and freezing them. This method can help you keep Arugula leaves for about a year.
- After washing the Arugula leaves, blanch them in boiling water for about 30 seconds.
- Put them in a bowl of cold water and let them drain.
- Divide the amount of vegetables into sealed bags and store them in the freezer.
Final Thoughts
Arugula can completely grow back after harvesting if you know how to pick it properly. The rule to help extend harvest time is to only pick â…“ of the leaves on a plant at a time. The gap between harvests is one week to give the plants enough time to recover.
You start picking the outer and bottom leaves when they are 2-3 inches long. Harvest each leaf and store them in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Additionally, if you want to preserve Arugula for a period of several months to a year, puree them or blanch the leaves in boiling water and store them in the freezer.