Arugula, also known as rocket or salad rocket, is an annual plant that completes its life cycle in one year. This means that it does not come back every year on its own. However, arugula is a prolific self-seeder, which means that it has the ability to produce seeds that can germinate and grow into new plants in subsequent years.
When arugula plants bolt, which means they start to produce flowers and seeds, they can scatter their seeds in the surrounding area. These seeds can then lie dormant in the soil during the winter months and germinate when the conditions are right in the following spring or fall. This natural reseeding process can give the appearance of arugula coming back every year, as new plants sprout up in the same location.
To encourage the reseeding process and have a continuous supply of arugula in your garden, you can let the plants go to seed and allow the seeds to fall to the ground. It’s important to note that arugula plants are not invasive and generally do not spread aggressively like some other self-seeding plants. However, if you prefer to control the location and number of arugula plants in your garden, you can collect the seeds and sow them in specific areas or containers.
If you want to ensure a consistent supply of arugula year after year, you can also save the seeds from your own plants. Simply allow some plants to bolt and produce seeds, then collect the dried seed pods and store them in a cool, dry place until the following planting season. This way, you can sow the seeds in the desired location and have a new batch of arugula plants each year.
It’s worth mentioning that arugula is a cool-season crop, meaning it thrives in cooler temperatures and can tolerate light frosts. In warmer regions, it is typically grown during the fall and winter months when the weather is more suitable for its growth. In colder regions, it can be planted in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest.
While arugula is an annual plant that does not come back every year on its own, it has the ability to self-seed and produce new plants in subsequent years. By allowing the plants to go to seed and collecting or scattering the seeds, you can have a continuous supply of arugula in your garden.
