Arugula Companion Plants: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Success

Arugula, also known as rocket, is a fast-growing, cool-season leafy green loved for its distinctive peppery flavor. While it thrives in various garden settings, one of the best ways to ensure a healthy, prolific arugula crop is through thoughtful companion planting. By carefully planning which plants you situate near arugula, you can maximize yield, minimize pests, and make the most efficient use of your garden space.

Why Companion Planting Works for Arugula

Companion planting is the practice of strategically growing certain plants near each other to enhance their health and productivity. Some companions attract beneficial insects, suppress pests, improve soil health, or provide shade and support. For arugula, which can be sensitive to heat and a magnet for certain pests, the right companions can make all the difference between a thriving patch and a struggling one.

What Makes a Good Companion for Arugula?

Arugula belongs to the Brassicaceae family, sharing space with other cruciferous vegetables. Good companions for arugula typically:

• Help deter common pests such as flea beetles and aphids.
• Enhance arugula’s growth by improving soil conditions or providing beneficial shade.
• Avoid depleting the soil of the same nutrients as arugula, reducing competition.
• Enable successive or interplanting without crowding or stunting growth.

Top 10 Arugula Companion Plants

Let’s explore the best plants to grow alongside arugula for a harmonious, productive garden bed:

1. Carrots

Carrots and arugula are a classic pairing. Carrots’ upright, fern-like foliage allows room for arugula’s low, leafy habit. Additionally, arugula’s quick growth can offer soil cover to protect emerging carrots, while carrots’ slow maturation takes place as arugula is harvested, allowing for efficient succession planting.

2. Radishes

Radishes are both quick to mature and excellent at breaking up compacted soil, benefiting arugula’s delicate roots. Their peppery flavor can also deter some of the same pests that target arugula, creating a natural barrier in your beds.

3. Lettuce

Arugula and lettuce share similar growing requirements, especially cooler temperatures and consistent moisture. When planted together, the mix of leaf shapes and textures enhances visual appeal and allows for efficient harvesting of salad greens.

4. Beans

Most notably, bush beans fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching it for leafy greens like arugula that thrive on this essential nutrient. Beans can also provide some gentle shade, prolonging arugula’s productivity into the warmer months.

5. Peas

Like beans, peas are nitrogen-fixers. Early spring peas, whether grown as bush or vine types, provide a lush and cooling microclimate for arugula seedlings and help keep soil moist and fertile.

6. Onions and Garlic

Members of the allium family are well-known for naturally repelling a variety of garden pests. Planting onions or garlic alongside arugula can minimize damage from aphids, flea beetles, and other common Brassica foes.

7. Beets

With their deep roots, beets tap into nutrients below the soil surface, freeing up the upper layer for arugula. The two grow well together since they do not directly compete for the same resources, and beet tops can offer a little shade for arugula as they mature.

8. Marigolds

Though not edible, marigolds are a powerhouse in pest management thanks to their strong scent and natural compounds in the roots and leaves. They help deter nematodes and aphids, creating a safer environment for arugula to flourish.

9. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, drawing aphids, caterpillars, and other insects away from arugula. Plus, both their flowers and leaves are edible, adding a pop of color and taste to salads right alongside arugula.

10. Spinach

Spinach and arugula are both cool-season greens with similar requirements. They thrive in spring and autumn beds, and their dense foliage can help shade out weeds while maximizing space efficiency.

Plants to Avoid Planting Near Arugula

Not all plants play nice with arugula. Some compete for nutrients, attract the same pests, or simply inhibit healthy growth. Here are a few you’ll want to avoid planting too close to your arugula crop:

• Other Brassicas: Cabbage, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower are also in the Brassicaceae family. Planting them together can attract pests like cabbage worms, flea beetles, and aphids in large numbers, and they’ll all compete for the same nutrients.
• Potatoes: Potatoes can host various soil-borne diseases and require different soil conditions. Their vigorous growth and root systems may crowd out or stunt arugula.
• Strawberries: Strawberries are sensitive to brassicas, which can inhibit each other’s growth when planted closely.
• Fennel: Fennel is allelopathic and can stunt or inhibit the growth of many garden vegetables, arugula included.

How to Plan Your Arugula Companion Planting Layout

When designing your garden beds for arugula companion planting, consider the following best practices:

• Rotation: Rotate arugula and other brassicas with unrelated plants each season to prevent pest and disease buildup.
• Spacing: Allow enough space for each plant to grow, preventing overcrowding and reducing competition for water and nutrients.
• Succession Planting: Use fast-growing crops like radishes or spinach to maximize harvests and keep soil covered.
• Interplanting: Place pest-repelling flowers (marigolds, nasturtiums) at the borders or throughout the bed.

Sample Companion Planting Chart for Arugula

Tips for Maximizing Arugula Health and Yield

• Sow arugula seeds in early spring or late summer for best results; the plants prefer cool temperatures.
• Plant a succession of seeds every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest.
• Water regularly; arugula thrives with consistent moisture but doesn’t like waterlogged roots.
• Mulch around arugula to retain moisture and suppress weeds, taking care not to bury the plants.
• Harvest arugula when leaves are young and tender for the best flavor.
• Remove any companion plants that show signs of disease promptly to prevent the spread.

Pro Techniques: Troubleshooting Arugula Problems with Companion Planting

If your arugula is suffering from pests or slow growth, examine your companion planting arrangements. Here’s how companion planting addresses common arugula issues:

• Flea Beetles: Interplanting arugula with aromatic herbs (like dill or cilantro) and flower companions such as marigolds can mask arugula’s scent and keep beetles at bay.
• Aphids: Nasturtiums lure aphids away; onions and garlic repel them. Consider alternating rows or clusters for maximum effect.
• Bitter Leaves Due to Heat: Use trellised beans or tall peas nearby to provide partial shade during warm spells, extending arugula’s growing season.
• Slow Growth: Nitrogen-fixers like beans and peas enrich the soil, encouraging robust leafy growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What time of year should I plant arugula and its companions?

Arugula thrives in cool weather, so plant it in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late summer for a fall crop. Sow companions such as lettuce, spinach, or peas on a similar schedule for best results.

Can I plant arugula with tomatoes?

While arugula and tomatoes do not directly hinder one another, tomatoes prefer warmer conditions than arugula. You can plant arugula early in the season, then follow with tomatoes once the weather warms, or plant arugula in the shade of mature tomato plants to prolong its season.

How much space should I leave between arugula and its companions?

Generally, space arugula 6 inches apart from other low-growing greens and at least 12 inches from larger companions like beans, beets, or peas. This ensures each plant has enough room for healthy growth.

Do I need to fertilize arugula when using companion planting?

Beans and peas naturally boost soil nitrogen, but fast-growing arugula can benefit from a side-dressing of organic compost or a balanced fertilizer, especially after harvesting companions that may deplete nutrients.

What are the quickest arugula companion crops to harvest?

Radishes, spinach, and baby lettuce greens are all fast-growing companions that can be harvested within three to four weeks, often ahead of or alongside arugula.

Conclusion: Enhancing Your Garden with Arugula Companion Planting

Companion planting is both an art and a science. By carefully selecting the best neighbors for your arugula, you can reduce maintenance, repel pests, and enjoy abundant, flavorful greens through much of the year. Mix and match companions according to your space and taste preferences, and reap the rewards with healthier plants and richer harvests.

Author

medha deb

 

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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