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Crop Profile for Arugula in New Jersey
Eruca sativa Miller Capparales: Brassicaceae Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. Capparales: Brassicaceae

General Production Information
Yearly production: Approximately 200 acres. % of crop for fresh market: 100% % of crop grown for baby arugula market: 25% % of crop grown for wholesale market: 60%

Production Regions
The majority of arugula productionoccurs in the southern New Jersey counties of Atlantic (50 acres), Cumberland (80 acres) and Gloucester (60 acres). Soils in southern New Jersey are light, ranging from sand to sandy loam with some areas of silt loam. Arugula production in the southern region extends from early spring to the first hard frost in late autumn. In this region, arugula is predominantly for sale at auction, with plantsgenerally pulled, washed and bundled in quarter pound bunches with the roots on. Wholesale units are 24 count (bunch) crates. Some arugula in this region is produced for the retail market and sold at farm stands or directly to restaurants. In this case, arugula is generally sold by the bunch. In Gloucester County, approximately 50 acres of arugula production is for the “baby” market. In thisproduction, arugula is grown and harvested before reaching the 4-inch leaf stage. Baby arugula is used exclusively in salad mixes or bagged and sold as baby arugula leaves. Baby arugula may be wholesaled or sold directly to restaurants. In the northern counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Warren, and Sussex, many growers produce arugula, but on minimal acreage. Soils in the northern region of NewJersey are typically Piedmont (heavy silt loams) and Appalachian (shaley) soils. There is typically a spring

and fall crop in the northern region. Here, arugula is grown exclusively for retail at farm stands and at community sponsored farmers markets. Typical growers in this region produce a quarter acre of arugula. Production is similar to that in the southern region, with plants sold as bareroot, quarter pound bunches. Total acreage in the northern regions is approximately 10 acres.

Cultural Practices
Arugula is native to the Mediterranean basin, where wild plants were harvested for centuries prior to the advent of its cultivation. Arugula has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past 10-20 years, particularly in the more affluent coastal regions. Arugula can begrown and harvested for baby leaves (as a salad green alone, or to be mixed with other salad greens), or when closer to maturity. In the latter case it is sold bunched and is cooked rather than eaten raw. Arugula is a very quick crop, with some varieties able to be harvested for baby arugula in as few as 18 days after seeding. Typical maturity ranges from 30-50 days. Arugula types grown in NewJersey include the strap leafed varieties (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) and the “wild type” varieties (Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Eruca visicaria). ‘Astro’, ‘Astro II’, and Johnny’s ‘Arugula’ are common varieties representing the strap leafed varieties grown in NJ. ‘Surrey’ (E. vesicaria) and ‘Selvetica’ (D. tenuifolia) are varieties grown in NJ where a more deeply lobed, wild type leaf isdesirable. Arugula for bunched sale is direct seeded into 3-4 row bare-ground beds. Baby arugula is sown in 22 rows on a 45 inch bed. Irrigation is typically overhead from solid set sprinklers, although a few growers put trickle tape over the beds. Many growers plant only in the spring and fall, with 2-3 plantings per season per year. In the southern counties, where wholesale arugula production is morecommon and soils are lighter, arugula is grown from spring through the fall, with new plantings established at 7-10 day intervals. Fertility may involve a broadcast application of a balanced fertilizer prior to bed formation followed by 1-2 sidedress or topdress applications of N in the form of urea or CaNO3. Some growers apply fertilizer only as side- or topdress applications, while others rely...