Astro Arugula: Gourmet Salad Green with Nutty, Peppery Flavor
Astro Arugula is a premium variety of this beloved salad green, prized for its nutty, peppery flavor and tender texture. Ready to harvest in just 28 days for baby leaves, this fast-growing cultivar offers a milder taste compared to standard arugula, making it perfect for those new to this gourmet green. Astro’s rich history dates back to ancient Roman times, where it was valued not only for its distinctive taste but also for its alleged aphrodisiac properties.
This versatile green shines in mixed salads, adding a delightful kick when combined with milder leaves. Its wide, slightly lobed leaves are ideal for both baby leaf production and full-size harvests. Astro Arugula’s slower bolting nature ensures a longer harvest period, allowing you to enjoy its crisp, succulent texture and nutty flavor throughout the growing season. Whether used raw in salads, as a pizza topping, or wilted into pasta dishes, Astro Arugula elevates any culinary creation.
Astro Arugula thrives in cool weather and can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Growing to a compact height of 6-8 inches, it’s perfect for small gardens or container growing. For a continuous harvest, sow seeds every 2-3 weeks. The plants are productive, allowing for multiple cuttings when harvested at the baby leaf stage, or a bountiful one-time harvest when grown to full size.
Growing Success Tips:
- Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, spacing plants 8 inches apart
- Provide partial shade in warmer climates to prevent bolting
- Harvest regularly to encourage continued leaf production
- Use row covers to protect from flea beetles
Astro Arugula is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners, offering a gourmet crop with minimal effort. Its quick growth and adaptability to various growing conditions make it a reliable addition to any vegetable garden or salad patch. For an extra flavor boost, try harvesting a few of the edible flowers to add a spicy, decorative touch to your dishes.
Product Features
- Days to maturity: 28 (baby leaf), 50 (full size)
- Plant height: 6-8 inches
- Leaf type: Wide, slightly lobed
- Flavor profile: Mild, nutty, peppery
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
- Planting depth: 1/4 inch
- Germination temperature: 40-70°F
- Water requirements: Consistent moisture
Key Benefits
- Quick-growing for multiple harvests
- Milder flavor compared to standard arugula
- Slow to bolt, extending the harvest season
- Versatile in culinary applications
