Arugula is an annual grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 40 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. As a brassica (the cabbage family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
6-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
40
Score Arugula on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether arugula actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score arugula against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Arugula is
Arugula grows as an annual and reaches around a foot at maturity. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Arugula
Arugula grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 40 days after planting. Arugula does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 700 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
46.4°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
40 days
Arugula; cool-season; bolts fast in heat. Succession every 10-14d.
OSU-PNW; Johnny's
GDD Required
700+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
70+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant arugula in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Arugula prefers pH 6 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Arugula is ready about 40 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — arugula isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Where Arugula thrives
On hardiness alone, arugula grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Arugula growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Arugula can grow in these states:
See if Arugula will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether arugula actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Arugula in my zone?
Arugula grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Arugula take to grow?
Arugula is ready to harvest about 40 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Arugula?
Most growers plant arugula after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Arugula need?
Arugula needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Arugula need?
Arugula prefers soil pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Is Arugula safe for pets?
Arugula is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.