Growing Arugula Indoors — Complete Guide
Yes, Arugula can be grown indoors. Here's everything you need to know: container size, light requirements, watering schedule, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Arugula Indoors — At a Glance
Container Size for Indoor Arugula
Recommended: 6–8 inch pot or window box
Arugula has very shallow roots — 4–6 inches of depth is sufficient. A window box (18–24 inches) allows dense planting and multiple cuts. Scatter seeds across the entire surface.
Light Requirements
Hours of Light Needed
10–12 hours
per day, consistently
Grow Light Recommendation
Arugula requires less light than most edible plants — one of the easiest to grow under even modest grow lights. 10–12 hours of a standard T5 or LED panel works well. A bright north-facing window is often sufficient.
Watering and Humidity
Ideal Humidity: 40–60%
Arugula is one of the most tolerant salad greens. It grows in a range of humidity levels. Avoid very warm, dry conditions — heat concentrates the peppery compounds and speeds bolting.
Ideal Temperature: 50–68°F (10–20°C)
Keep away from cold drafts (air conditioning, windows in winter) and excessive heat sources (heaters, ovens). Consistent temperature produces the most vigorous growth.
How to Grow Arugula Indoors: Step by Step
Scatter seeds densely
Scatter arugula seeds across the surface of moist potting mix. Do not cover — they need some light to germinate. Mist gently.
Germinate quickly
Arugula germinates in 4–7 days, faster than most salad greens. Keep soil moist during this period.
Thin or harvest as microgreens
You can harvest very young (microgreen stage, 7–10 days) for the mildest flavor. Or thin to 2-inch spacing and allow to grow to full baby leaf size.
Cut with scissors
Harvest with scissors 1 inch above the soil. Arugula regrows 2–3 times from one sowing before the quality declines.
Succession sow every 2–3 weeks
Arugula has a short productive window. Keep a continuous supply by sowing a small pot of new seeds every 2–3 weeks throughout the year.
Common Indoor Arugula Problems & Fixes
Extremely spicy, unpleasant flavor
Cause
Heat stress
Fix
Move to a cooler location; harvest younger, smaller leaves which are milder
Bolting very quickly
Cause
Temperatures above 70°F
Fix
Keep cool; sow new seeds every 2 weeks; harvest very young for best results
Flea beetle holes in leaves
Cause
Common outdoor pest that can come in on soil
Fix
Use sterile potting mix; inspect plants regularly; remove affected leaves
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Arugula indoors?
Yes, Arugula can be grown indoors with the right conditions. You'll need 10–12 hours of Partial shade to bright indirect light, a 6–8 inch pot or window box, and temperatures of 50–68°F (10–20°C). The difficulty level for growing Arugula indoors is Easy.
How much light does indoor Arugula need?
Indoor Arugula needs 10–12 hours of light per day. Arugula requires less light than most edible plants — one of the easiest to grow under even modest grow lights. 10–12 hours of a standard T5 or LED panel works well. A bright north-facing window is often sufficient.
What size container does indoor Arugula need?
Arugula has very shallow roots — 4–6 inches of depth is sufficient. A window box (18–24 inches) allows dense planting and multiple cuts. Scatter seeds across the entire surface.
Best Cities for Growing Arugula Outdoors
If you're growing Arugula indoors year-round, check the outdoor calendar for your city — you may be able to grow it outside during warmer months too.
Growing Arugula Outdoors Too?
Find the best planting times for Arugula in your city with our climate-based calendar.