Wild Arugula
Sylvetta wild arugula is a classic wild arugula variety that matures in just 35 days, making it one of the fastest greens you can grow. This open-pollinated cultivar develops into a compact bush form, producing deeply lobed leaves with the distinctive peppery bite that wild arugula is known for. It thrives in cool seasons and can be harvested repeatedly by cutting leaves at 3-6 inches, delivering fresh greens from spring through fall, and even through winter in protected growing spaces.
6-12 inches apart
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5-10
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
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What sets Sylvetta apart is its remarkable seed density, with about 100,700 seeds per ounce, a tiny amount of seed goes an impressively long way, making it economical for home gardeners. The quick 35-day timeline means you can succession plant for continuous harvests throughout the growing season. Its naturally compact bush habit requires minimal space, yet produces abundant leaves ready to cut within five weeks of sowing.
Sylvetta wild arugula is a salad green prized for its peppery leaves, which add bold flavor to mixed greens, grain bowls, and composed plates. The leaves are best harvested young and tender at 3-6 inches, when they deliver the characteristic wild arugula spice without becoming overly sharp. Even after plants flower, the leaves remain edible with a more intensified peppery taste, and the delicate flowers themselves can be scattered over dishes for both flavor and visual appeal.
Direct sow Sylvetta wild arugula seeds where you want them to grow, as this fast-maturing variety prefers not to be transplanted. Sow seeds shallowly in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8, pressing them lightly into the soil surface. For succession plantings that keep fresh greens coming, sow new seeds every two to three weeks throughout the growing season.
Begin harvesting Sylvetta wild arugula when leaves reach 3-6 inches in size, typically around 35 days after sowing. Use a sharp knife to cut about an inch above the soil line, being careful to cut above the basal plate to encourage clean regrowth. The plant will regenerate and produce a second flush of leaves within 5-14 days, allowing for multiple harvests from a single planting. Even after plants bolt and flower, the leaves remain usable, though they'll develop a sharper, more intensely peppery flavor, the edible flowers themselves are also a delightful garnish.
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