The Arugula Rocket Salad Roquette, 'Eruca sativa', is one of the most popular "new" greens. The interesting flavor of Arugula will add spunk to any boring salad. Descriptions such as hot with a hint of nut flavor, tart, and spicy are used to describe Arugula. Roquette Arugula is most often eaten raw in salads but is also steamed or added raw to many other dishes, such as pizza. Arugula is a green much like lettuce and is best in cool temperatures.
Arugula, when mature, grow to 2 to 3 feet tall, but the leaves are tastiest and less bitter when harvested 2 to 6 inches long. The flowers are white and are also edible. Plant in early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before the last average frost date and plant successive plantings therafter every 3 weeks until first fall frost approaches. Rocket Salad Arugula prefers light, fertile, moist, and well drained soil. In warmer climates, delay planting during the heat of the summer.