Anyone need some WILD arugula seeds? Sometimes they're tough to find
- Thread starter Marg CDN
- Start date
cynupstateny
Well-known member
Oh My Gosh, Marg - I have been looking for arugula seed for 2 years. No one around here carrys it.
This company has several types online from a grower called "Botanical Interests"
I can't seem to link to the item, but use the navigation in the left column.
The local nursery carries the "Botanical Interests" seeds and they offer so many older heirloom varieties. I grew the "wild" type last winter and it was interesting--tiny plants, slow to grow, but very intense, not bitter, flavor. Really different from the fast-growing garden variety.
http://www.gardentrails.com/frame.asp?X=1123&Y=695&page=product/pframe.htm
I can't seem to link to the item, but use the navigation in the left column.
The local nursery carries the "Botanical Interests" seeds and they offer so many older heirloom varieties. I grew the "wild" type last winter and it was interesting--tiny plants, slow to grow, but very intense, not bitter, flavor. Really different from the fast-growing garden variety.
http://www.gardentrails.com/frame.asp?X=1123&Y=695&page=product/pframe.htm
cynupstateny
Well-known member
Great site- Thanks, Joe!
Cyn I can just mail you a package of regular arugula seeds. These are the wild ones that are common
in Europe. Skinny leaves.
Every garden MUST have some kind of arugula. And it's so easy to grow. It does love our mutual climate. There's a trick though. Let me know when you do decide to plant some.
in Europe. Skinny leaves.
Every garden MUST have some kind of arugula. And it's so easy to grow. It does love our mutual climate. There's a trick though. Let me know when you do decide to plant some.
cynupstateny
Well-known member
Oh Thank you, Marg. I found some on the site Joe posted that I can order. I DO love arugula!
To cultivating it? I had to learn by hit and miss...
many years ago when I had to travel to one gourmet shop in the city that sold it. The produce guy would give me arugula with roots that I would plant and harvest bit by bit. I saved the seeds each year.
What I found works so easily is to stir up the ground...I know there's a real term for that but that's what we have husbands for. Then I broadcast the seeds on the ground when it is wet. I really crowd the plants. They love to grow up together. I do a patch rather than try to keep it orderly in rows.
If they are not crowded, they just don't survive well.
I then just walk gently on the seeds and make sure they are sprinkled gently for a week. They grow.
The plants don't mind a little snow and don't have to be in sun all day. How considerate of them!
I harvest the baby plants as they start to grow, by pulling them out. If the area gets too thin, I clip off seeds only until I have another patch in gear. And I plant 3 times a season to be sure that I have a constant supply.
They self seed each year and I don't mind as I just pull out these things as 'weeds' and eat them. This way, they're already sprouting in March, before I ever get out to the garden. I don't have any problem with them wandering though.
Our favourite way to eat arugula...fresh baguette, goat cheese, roasted red pepper & arugula.
many years ago when I had to travel to one gourmet shop in the city that sold it. The produce guy would give me arugula with roots that I would plant and harvest bit by bit. I saved the seeds each year.
What I found works so easily is to stir up the ground...I know there's a real term for that but that's what we have husbands for. Then I broadcast the seeds on the ground when it is wet. I really crowd the plants. They love to grow up together. I do a patch rather than try to keep it orderly in rows.
If they are not crowded, they just don't survive well.
I then just walk gently on the seeds and make sure they are sprinkled gently for a week. They grow.
The plants don't mind a little snow and don't have to be in sun all day. How considerate of them!
I harvest the baby plants as they start to grow, by pulling them out. If the area gets too thin, I clip off seeds only until I have another patch in gear. And I plant 3 times a season to be sure that I have a constant supply.
They self seed each year and I don't mind as I just pull out these things as 'weeds' and eat them. This way, they're already sprouting in March, before I ever get out to the garden. I don't have any problem with them wandering though.
Our favourite way to eat arugula...fresh baguette, goat cheese, roasted red pepper & arugula.
Thanks, Marg. It's a little different in California because we're starting to plant it now
for the winter. It grows so fast and I've found if you don't use it while it's young it gets very sour or bitter. I'm in a community garden and I noticed last spring it came up everywhere because so many gardeners had let it go to seed.
for the winter. It grows so fast and I've found if you don't use it while it's young it gets very sour or bitter. I'm in a community garden and I noticed last spring it came up everywhere because so many gardeners had let it go to seed.