Wild Arugula
Red Dragon arugula brings dramatic flair to the vegetable garden with its deeply lobed, oak-leaf-shaped foliage splashed with crimson color. This heirloom variety of Diplotaxis tenuifolia matures in just 45-50 days, making it one of the fastest crops you can grow. Unlike milder salad arugulas, Red Dragon delivers the peppery bite arugula lovers crave, with leaves that are as visually stunning as they are flavorful. It thrives in cool weather between 40-70°F and needs only 4-8 hours of sun daily, making it perfect for spring and fall gardens where many other greens struggle.
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What sets Red Dragon apart is the combination of its striking appearance and vigorous flavor. The dramatically lobed leaves with their splash of crimson make it as much a visual statement on the plate as it is a culinary one. This variety sprouts quickly in just 5-7 days and reaches maturity faster than many greens, so you can have homegrown arugula on your table within seven weeks of planting. Its frost hardiness means you can push the growing season into cooler months when other tender greens have faded.
Red Dragon arugula is harvested for its peppery leaves, which are prized raw in salads where their dramatic coloring adds visual interest alongside their sharp, spicy flavor. The leaves can also be lightly sautéed or wilted into warm dishes, where their peppery character mellows slightly while maintaining its distinctive taste. Its tender texture and quick maturity make it ideal for succession planting, allowing gardeners to enjoy fresh, homegrown arugula throughout the cooler growing seasons.
Sow Red Dragon arugula seeds directly into the garden soil where you want them to grow. Plant seeds at a depth of 1/8 inch and keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which typically occurs within 5-7 days. For best results, plant in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in late summer for fall harvest, timing sowings to take advantage of the plant's preference for temperatures between 40-70°F.
Begin harvesting Red Dragon arugula leaves once the plant has developed its distinctive lobed, oak-leaf-shaped foliage, typically around 45-50 days after sowing. Harvest individual outer leaves by pinching them off at the base, or cut the entire plant about 1 inch above the soil line for a second flush of growth. The leaves are ready to eat at any stage of development, though many gardeners prefer them when they're young and tender. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to produce more leaves, extending your harvest window.
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