Astro Arugula brings the classic peppery bite of traditional rocket in a compact, productive package that's ready to harvest in just 32 to 55 days. This moderately bolt-resistant cultivar grows 12 inches tall with slightly lobed, medium green leaves that develop a sharp, nutty flavor perfect for adding sophisticated heat to salads and sandwiches. Unlike deeply cut modern varieties, Astro maintains the traditional leaf shape that made arugula a Mediterranean staple, while its upright growth habit makes harvesting a breeze in cool spring and fall gardens.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
—
Width
12 in
Spacing
30–39
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
?-?
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What sets Astro apart is its traditional leaf shape with less pronounced lobing than modern strains, offering the classic arugula experience gardeners have cherished for generations. The compact plants produce decorative white edible flowers as they mature, and the leaves intensify in flavor as temperatures rise, giving you control over the heat level in your harvest. This fast-growing, cut-and-come-again crop excels at successive plantings and thrives in cool weather when many other greens struggle.
Common Uses
Astro's sharp, nutty leaves add wonderful accent to fresh salads and sandwiches, while the intensifying flavor in warm weather makes older leaves perfect for cooking applications. Toss the peppery greens into hot pasta where they wilt beautifully, layer them on pizza for a spicy finish, or blend them into pesto for a more complex flavor than traditional basil versions. The plant excels as microgreens and baby leaf production, and even the decorative white flowers are edible, though many gardeners find the leaves too sharp once flowering begins.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-spring
First Harvest
Early Spring
Last Harvest
Late Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Indoor starting is not recommended for Astro Arugula as it prefers direct sowing outdoors for best results.
Direct Sow
Direct sow outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date when soil temperature reaches at least 40°F, ideally 50-70°F. Sow again in early fall for winter harvest in mild climates, stopping sowings in early summer to avoid hot weather.
Harvesting
Harvest Astro at almost any stage from small seedlings to fully mature plants, with peak harvest window between 32 to 55 days from sowing. Cut leaves frequently as this fast-growing, cut-and-come-again crop will produce multiple flushes when harvested regularly. Once white flowers appear, the leaves become too sharp for many palates, though the flowers themselves are edible and decorative.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav. ssp. sativa (Mill.) Thell.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Eruca
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)