Content
Arugula on the windowsill feels no worse than in a greenhouse or outdoors. The vitamin composition, as well as the taste of the greens grown in the apartment, are identical to those that grew in the garden. Therefore, lovers of mini-gardens on the balcony prefer to grow this exotic herb on their own, instead of buying goods that are not of the first freshness in the store. However, in order to get a good harvest, it is important to know some of the intricacies of growing arugula on the windowsill, the rules for sowing seeds and the subsequent care of young shoots.
Arugula is undemanding to care and growing conditions, quickly yields
Is it possible to grow arugula on a windowsill
Arugula is popular among lovers of fresh herbs not only because it is an integral part of Italian, French and Turkish cuisine. This herb has established itself as an excellent aphrodisiac that increases libido, so no romantic dinner is unthinkable without arugula. In addition, these greens are rich in B vitamins, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, macro- and microelements (zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium).
Despite the enormous benefits of arugula for the human body, gardeners cultivate this crop on their plots without enthusiasm. This is due to the fact that the cabbage plant is of great interest to pests, such as the cruciferous flea, which is able to completely destroy young shoots in just a few hours. Therefore, growing arugula on the windowsill at home is rapidly gaining popularity, since it is easier to protect greens from pests in an apartment.
How much arugula grows on the windowsill
When choosing a variety of arugula for growing on a windowsill, experienced gardeners are advised to pay attention to early ripening varieties such as Koltivata, Rococo, Solitaire. The crop can be harvested within 20-25 days from the moment the first shoots appear.
Better to plant early to mid-ripening rucola
Mid-season varieties such as Rocket, Sicily or Corsica are also popular. The growing season is about 35-38 days from the date of sowing seeds in boxes or pots.
Planting arugula on the windowsill
Growing arugula on the windowsill is not a laborious process, since this culture is unpretentious and unpretentious. Ease of care allows even beginner mini-gardeners to achieve good results. However, it is not enough just to sow seeds and wait for a rich harvest in a month. To do this, it is necessary to properly prepare the planting material, containers, soil mixture, and also think on which window sill it is better to place the boxes so that the seedlings do not feel a lack of lighting.
Preparation of soil and planting capacity
To grow arugula on a windowsill, you can buy soil at a store or prepare an earth mixture yourself. In the first case, any universal soil or substrate for seedlings is suitable, which does not need to be further processed in any way, you can immediately start filling the containers and proceed to sowing seeds. In the second case, you have to work hard.
To prepare the substrate you will need:
- sod land - 2 parts;
- humus - 2 parts;
- river sand - 1 part.
All components must be thoroughly mixed and calcined in the oven in order to eliminate the risk of contamination of crops with pests or fungal infections.
You can grow the plant in pots or trays.
It is impossible to fertilize crops, since foliage has the peculiarity of accumulating a large amount of nitrates in itself. Therefore, the preparation of the substrate should be approached with great care - it must contain a sufficient amount of nutrients for the full growth of the plant.
The planting containers can be both wooden boxes or plastic containers with a height of approximately 10 cm, as well as ordinary wide flower pots. It is necessary that the bottom of the selected container has drainage holes. If you take dishes less than 8 cm high, then the arugula will lack moisture, since the soil in such boxes dries out quickly.
It is necessary to fill the containers with the substrate to the brim, subsequently the earth will settle. It is important to lay a drainage layer (pebbles, fine gravel) 1-2 cm at the bottom of the boxes.
Preparation of planting material
You can grow arugula from seeds on a windowsill both in winter and in summer. At the same time, the seeds do not require special preparation. They do not need to be pre-soaked, stratified and disinfected - arugula is characterized by high germination. It is enough to buy already processed seeds in a specialized store and you can immediately start sowing.
Landing rules
After completing the preparation of containers and substrate, you can proceed directly to sowing seeds. They should not be deepened; they can simply be scattered chaotically on the surface of the soil and slightly hammered from above with earth. However, this method of sowing requires subsequent thinning of the seedlings.
To get neat rows, you should adhere to the following landing algorithm:
- In the ground, make even grooves 0.5 cm deep at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other.
- Spread the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm and moisten the soil with warm water using a spray bottle.
- Cover the rows with a substrate without tamping, and again moisten a little.
- Cover the planting containers with foil or glass and place in a dark place for seeds to germinate.
On the 3-5th day, when the first shoots begin to appear, the containers should be moved to a well-lit place. Better if it is a window sill in the south side of the apartment. Once a day, it is necessary to remove the film for airing the seedlings, not forgetting to moisten the soil as the top layer dries with a spray bottle. If there is not enough light, young seedlings will stretch upward. In this case, there is a great risk that they will fall under their own weight, and then it will be impossible to help them.
Care
When growing arugula on the windowsill, the main thing is to try to create the most favorable conditions for the culture, otherwise the leaves of an adult plant will be small and tough. All care comes down to providing the necessary lighting, maintaining the temperature regime, as well as regular watering the seedlings.
Humidification is carried out by spraying with water or hanging wet rags on batteries
Optimal conditions for growing arugula on the window
A week after the seeds germinate, it is time to thin them out. Weak and improperly growing seedlings are removed so that the stronger ones do not feel a lack of nutrients. The optimal density between the arugula bushes, which ensures their full development, is about 12-15 cm, then they will feel free, and the greens will grow fleshy and juicy.
Arugula is demanding on lighting, so it is undesirable to shade it with taller indoor plants that are next to it on the windowsill.Natural light is usually sufficient for arugula.
The lack of lighting can be compensated for by using fluorescent lamps, turning them on in the evening for several hours. It is important not to overdo it here, because with excessive lighting, the bushes become thinner and the taste of arugula deteriorates significantly. In addition, excessive lighting stimulates the plant to eject arrows. In this case, the bush stops growing and developing, and the greens will turn out to be small, tough and bitter.
The optimal temperature regime for growing arugula in an apartment on a windowsill is + 18-19 ° С. A slight decrease in temperature favorably affects the culture, but an increase is undesirable, since the taste of greens is lost.
Watering arugula on the window
As the seedlings grow, watering is increased, but it is important not to overdo it, arugula does not like excessive moisture. The frequency of watering depends on the humidity in the environment. If the room is dry and hot, it is necessary to water the arugula daily, if it is cool - once every 2-3 days.
Top dressing
According to the rules of agricultural technology for growing arugula, it does not require additional feeding. However, if seeds are sown several times in a row into the same substrate, the seedlings can be fed using complex fertilizers for horticultural crops.
Useful Tips
Experienced gardeners know about the intricacies of growing arugula on the windowsill, which allow you to get lush and healthy bushes in an apartment:
- You can harvest as soon as the leaves reach a size of 10 cm. If you cut them selectively, then one bush will produce spicy herbs for up to 15 days.
- If the bushes have bloomed for some reason, the inflorescences must be removed without fail, otherwise the greens will be bitter.
- Despite the fact that the culture is photophilous, the greenery should be protected from direct sunlight, especially in the summer: shade or rearrange it on the northern windowsill.
- When choosing a place for placing boxes with crops, it is important to remember that arugula categorically does not tolerate drafts.
- It is impossible for sowing to use a substrate in which peat is present - the seedlings will die. The soil in which legumes or pumpkin used to grow works best.
Less experienced windowsill gardeners should pay attention to the appearance of the arugula. In a healthy plant, the leaves have a rich bright green color. If the greens are dull, the bushes develop poorly - this indicates a lack of lighting, watering, or a violation of the temperature regime.
Lesions can be treated with "Fitoverm" or "Fitosporin"
Conclusion
Arugula on the windowsill is a great way to enrich your diet with healthy and vitamin-rich greens throughout the year. The cultivation technique is simple, the care is not laborious, the costs are minimal, so even non-professionals achieve success. Arugula is not capricious, does not require special attention to itself and, when favorable conditions are created, it gives a good harvest within the framework of the apartment.
