Growing your own vegetables is a rewarding practice; as summer weather appraoches, now is perhaps the best time to experiment with growing produce to make fresh salads.
We are taking cues from Alicia Silverstone, who recently shared a clip of herself on Instagram wherein she talks about her backyard garden, and one of her favorite things to grow for salads: arugula.
'I've been away from home for like seven months,' she states in the video. 'Being home, making a salad feels like a special treat in the spring.' She goes on to show off her assortment of this peppery plant, along with some edible flowers, in her backyard. 'This arugula is quite strong, so the flowers should be a little less spicy,' she explains. When considering how to grow arugula, it is actually a very straightforward, simple process.
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According to experts, arugula is one of the more popular leaves to grow at home lately, with its paltable taste and simple care making it a top pick.
'Arugula is a very simple salad leaf to grow that has become increasingly fashionable in recent years,' explains Drew Swainston, Gardens content editor at Homes & Gardens. 'Its peppery leaves can spice up any salad bowl or be cooked to go with meat, pasta, or seafood. Wild arugula has milder-flavored leaves than other varieties, but still has that distinctive arugula kick.'
Drew explains that timing is key to ensuring arugula grows healthily, with spring being an excellent starting point. He also stresses that regular watering is critical for optimizing the salad leaves' quality.
'Arugula seeds can be sown directly into the vegetable garden from spring to late summer - though they will benefit from shade during the hottest months to prevent them from bolting, which can cause them to get bitter,' he explains. 'Make regular successional sowings throughout the growing season and keep plants well-watered. The leaves can be picked once they are large enough to handle and are best picked little and often as a cut-and-come-again crop.'
While we consider the best vegetables to grow in April, humble arugula is definitely joining the ranks.
