Arugula is a fast-growing, peppery green that home gardeners often seek to harvest repeatedly from the same plant. Achieving a continuous supply of tender leaves depends on adopting a specific method that encourages regrowth. This technique, known as “cut-and-come-again,” focuses on strategic removal of foliage to stimulate the plant’s natural production mechanism, securing multiple harvests from a single planting.
Identifying When the Plant is Ready to Harvest
The timing of the initial harvest significantly affects both flavor and the plant’s ability to regenerate. Arugula leaves are ready to be picked as “baby greens” when they are two to three inches long, typically three to four weeks after seeding. Harvesting early yields the mildest flavor, ideal for fresh salads. For a bolder, more pungent taste, wait until the leaves reach four to six inches. Begin harvesting before the plant enters its reproductive stage, known as bolting. Bolting is signaled by a central flower stalk, after which the leaves quickly become tougher and intensely bitter.
The Sustainable Harvesting Technique
The “cut-and-come-again” approach relies on harvesting only the oldest, outermost leaves while leaving the growing center, or crown, intact. Damaging this area will halt all new leaf production. Use clean, sharp scissors or small garden shears to remove the mature leaves, cutting the stem near the base of the plant.
Cutting the leaf all the way down minimizes remaining stems, which can create entry points for disease. A clean cut heals faster and reduces stress on the plant. Avoid tearing the leaves or leaving long, ragged stubs.
A fundamental rule for sustainable harvesting is never to remove more than one-third to one-half of the plant’s total foliage at any given time. The leaves convert sunlight into the energy required for photosynthesis and future growth. Removing too many leaves starves the plant, preventing it from producing a subsequent crop.
Maximizing Regrowth and Longevity
Post-harvest maintenance is important for guaranteeing the plant’s continued production of new leaves. Arugula is a cool-season crop, and heat stress is the primary trigger for bolting. To mitigate this, provide partial shade during the hottest part of the day to keep the plant and soil cooler.
Consistent soil moisture is another factor that delays bolting. Stress from dryness prompts the plant to focus energy on seed production, so water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Regular harvesting itself encourages new growth from the crown.
If a thick, elongated flower stalk emerges, this is a clear sign of bolting. While you can try to snip off this immature stalk immediately, bolting often signals the end of the useful harvest period. Even after bolting, you can continue to harvest the leaves until they become too bitter, and the resulting flowers are also edible.