Introduction to New Varieties of Arugula, a Specialty Vegetable

Arugula is a rare specialty vegetable selected from local varieties by the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Characteristics:

The taproot is well developed and the root system penetrates deep into the soil. The mature plant is 30--40 cm tall. The stem is round and covered with fine hairs, and the stem diameter is 0.2--0.4 cm. The leaves are deeply pinnately lobed with wavy margins, 10--15 cm long and 5--8 cm wide, and the petioles are 5--7 cm long. The flowers are yellow with black longitudinal stripes on the petals, and the fruit is a silique. Arugula prefers a warm, cool and humid climate. It is resistant to salinity and alkalinity, tolerant of drought and waterlogging, and has relatively strong cold resistance. The edible parts are the tender stems, leaves and flower buds, which have a rich sesame aroma. It can be stir-fried, cooked in soup or served as a cold salad, and is also suitable to eat with millet rice dipped in sauce. The yield is 2000--3000 kg per mu.

Cultivation points:

South of the Yangtze River, it can be sown all year round, but spring from March to May and autumn from August to October are best. In northern regions, it is sown in stages in open fields from April to May in spring and in stages in early to mid-August in autumn. In cold regions, protected cultivation can also be used, and sowing can be advanced or delayed according to production needs. Cultivation requires loose and fertile soil. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before sowing and prepare the soil carefully so that the beds are level and the surface is fine. The sowing rate is 0.75--1.5 kg per mu. When sowing, 2--3 times the amount of fine soil can be mixed evenly with the seeds before sowing. In arid areas, it is best to cover the bed surface with rice straw or pine needles after sowing to retain moisture. Remove the cover after the seedlings emerge. Watering should be done lightly and frequently, and manure water or chemical fertilizer should be applied as a top dressing. At 15--18°C, 30--40 days after sowing, when the seedlings are 20 cm tall, they can be harvested successively.