🌶️ Grow Guide: Spicy & Quick Arugula Microgreens

Arugula microgreens deliver a powerful, peppery kick that can transform any salad, sandwich, or garnish. They are fast-growing and relatively easy, making them a satisfying crop for beginner microgreen farmers!

Here is your step-by-step guide to growing a full

Farmer You Kitchen Kit of flavorful Arugula.

Step 1: Prep & Sow

Data Point	Arugula
Seed Weight per Kitchen Kit Pad	10 Grams
Needs Pre-Soak?	No
Optimal Germination Temp	70-75 degrees F

1. Prepare the Tray: Place an 8x8 germination pad in the kitchen kit tray and fully saturate the pad, draining off excess water.

2. Skip the Soak: Arugula seeds are what growers call mucilaginous—they form a gel when soaked. This means do not pre-soak the seeds, as it can make them clump and cause mold issues.

3. Sow the Seeds: Evenly broadcast 10 grams of dry arugula seeds across the surface of the pad.

4. Mist: Lightly mist the sown seeds with a spray bottle to help settle them and initiate germination.

Step 2: Blackout & Weighting

Blackout and weighting is not a necessary step with the Farmer You Kitchen Kit, but it can lead to increased productivity. If you wish to forgo the blackout and weighting, simply place the germination cover over your tray until the seeds have sprouted.

Data Point	Arugula
Weighted Days	2–3
Blackout Days	3–5
Notes on Germination	Can be slow to germinate; ensure consistent moisture.

1. Apply Weight (Days 1–3): Place a second tray (or some other flat waterproof object) directly on top of the seeds. Place a weight (5 lbs) on the top tray for 2–3 days. This pressure encourages the roots to grow down firmly into the pad and helps the stems grow thick and strong.

2. Continue Blackout (Days 3–5): After removing the weight, keep the trays stacked or covered in a dark spot for another 1–2 days until the seedlings are about 1 inch tall and starting to push the cover up. This darkness encourages the seedlings to "search" for light, resulting in longer stems.

3. Monitor: Check daily during this phase to ensure the growing medium remains moist.

Step 3: Grow & Water

Data Point	Arugula
Other Tips	Prone to damping off if overwatered.

1. Introduce Light: Once the microgreens are mostly yellow (etiolated) and about 1 inch tall, remove the blackout cover and move them under a grow light or into a bright windowsill. They will quickly turn vibrant green.

2. Watering: Switch to bottom watering. Pour water in along the sides of the tray and let the growing medium wick the moisture up. This keeps the delicate leaves dry, which is essential to prevent mold and "damping off" disease (a common issue for Arugula if the air or foliage is too wet).

3. Airflow: Ensure good airflow around the trays with a small fan to keep mold at bay (optional).

Step 4: Harvest

Data Point	Arugula
Days Until Harvest	10–14
Other Tips	Harvest before true leaves emerge for best flavor.

1. Timing: Your Arugula will typically be ready for harvest in 10–14 days.

2. Look for Cotyledons: Harvest when the cotyledons (the first round, oval seed leaves) are fully open and green, but before the first "true leaves" (the jagged, mature-looking leaves) start to form. Harvesting at this stage ensures the best, most intense peppery flavor.

3. Cut: Using a sharp knife or clean scissors, harvest the microgreens by cutting just above the root level.

4. With the MagniMoist pad, harvesting is a breeze! Simply hold the pad vertically above a bowl and allow the greens to fall into the bowl as you cut along the stems.

Enjoy your fresh, zesty Arugula microgreens!