VegetableArugula
Runway Arugula
Wild Arugula
Runway Arugula stands out with its distinctive deeply lobed oak leaf-shaped foliage that creates an elegant silhouette in the garden bed. This heirloom variety delivers a deliciously tangy bite that makes it perfect for both microgreen and baby leaf production. Ready to harvest in 40 to 79 days depending on your preferred size, Runway grows to a tidy 12 inches tall and thrives in cool weather conditions. The striking leaf shape and reliable flavor make this open-pollinated variety a standout choice for gardeners who want something more visually interesting than standard arugula.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
—
Width
12 in
Spacing
70–79
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
?-?
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Runway apart is its beautiful deeply lobed oak leaf-shaped leaves that bring both visual appeal and excellent flavor to the garden. This variety excels as both a microgreen and mature leaf crop, offering flexibility in harvest timing from tiny seedlings to full-sized plants. The tangy flavor profile makes it exceptional for fresh salads, sandwiches, pesto, and even cooked applications like pizza toppings and stir-fries. As a fast-growing cut-and-come-again crop that handles cool weather beautifully, Runway provides multiple harvests throughout the growing season.
Common Uses
Runway Arugula shines in fresh applications where its tangy flavor can take center stage. The tender leaves are perfect for salads and sandwiches, while the distinctive taste makes exceptional pesto. This versatile green also excels in cooked dishes, particularly when tossed into hot pasta where it wilts perfectly, scattered over pizza for a peppery finish, or quickly stir-fried to maintain its bite. The attractive oak leaf-shaped foliage makes it an excellent choice for microgreens and baby leaf mixes where visual appeal matters as much as flavor.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
20-25 Days After Sowing
Last Harvest
Mid-fall
Variety Details
Main Season
Summer/fall HarvestCare Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors anytime in spring, allowing them to establish before transplanting outdoors when soil can be worked.
Direct Sow
Direct sow outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Successive sowing is recommended, stopping in early summer and resuming in early fall.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting by thinning little seedlings to use in salads when they are several inches tall. For ongoing harvests, either pick individual leaves when 3-4 inches long, or snip leaves about 1 inch above the crown and let plants regrow for more harvests. Runway can be harvested at almost any stage, from small seedlings to fully mature plants. Once the plant starts to flower with small white edible blooms, the leaves become too sharp for many palates, though the flowers themselves remain edible.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Eruca
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)