When to Plant Fall Arugula: Zone Dates and Fast Harvest
Sow fall arugula by zone for a 30-day harvest of 2 to 4 inch leaves. Cool weather is best. Heat makes it bolt. Confirm with frost settings.
Published by ThriveThyme
arugula fall planting harvest
When to Plant Fall Arugula
Sow fall arugula in late summer into early fall while cool weather holds. Catalog days to harvest are about 30 days. Pick leaves at 2 to 4 inches for mild flavor. Heat makes plants bolt and leaves turn sharp. Use My Garden frost settings or a zone fall calendar such as zone 5 fall, zone 6 fall, or zone 7 fall.
See the arugula plant page.
Dates by Zone
These are typical catalog fall windows. Confirm with frost settings.
- Zone 3: August 15 to September 30.
- Zone 4: August 20 to October 1.
- Zone 5: August 25 to October 10.
- Zone 6: September 1 to October 20.
- Zone 7: September 10 to November 1.
- Zone 8: September 20 to November 15.
When to Harvest
Cut outer leaves at 2 to 4 inches, or shear the row an inch up for a second flush. Harvest before flower stalks emerge. Older leaves are more pungent.
Next Steps
Sow a short row this week if your zone window is open and weeks remain before frost. Pair with fall radishes and fall lettuce. Start from What to plant now.