Rucola Selvatica / Wild Perennial Arugula

Rucola selvatica / Diplotaxis tenuifolia

A green by many names, Rucola Selvatica also known as Sylvetta Perennial Arugula, Wild Italian Arugula, Perennial Wall Rocket, Roquette, Wild Rocket and Rucola, and is a native perennial of the Mediterranean. It possesses that distinguishing nutty arugula flavor but with a spicier bite than its cultivated relative, Standard Arugula (Eruca sativa). It is utterly delicious. A number of things make this arugula a valuable asset to the farm and garden. It is a deep rooted perennial making it very well equipped to last through dry periods and comes back year after year, although we are yet to learn how long-lived of a perennial it is. Another valuable feature is that it comes up as soon as the snow is gone in spring giving you fresh food when the crates in the root cellar are bare! If leaves are kept harvested, these plants will provide food throughout the entire growing season, even in the height of summer. Keeping the leaves harvested will prevent the plant from bolting and subsequently going dormant until later in the summer. We recommend mulching plants to help them overwinter in Zone 5 or colder. They could be wiped out in winters reaching -20 Fahrenheit or colder. Although, our plants have survived that kind of cold uncovered!

Growing Instructions:

Can be planted as soon as ground is workable but can also be planted any time throughout the growing season.

Direct sow 2 inches apart in rows 6-8 inches apart.

Amend soil with compost and a fall annual legume cover crop.

Cover with row cover to prevent extensive flea beetle damage.

Harvest Instructions:

Keep well harvested so plants don't bolt. Spicier flavor makes it great to mix with other greens and veggies.