It's also known as rocket. High in vitamins, this plant has been cultivated in North America for more than 300 years. It's attractive lobed, dark green leaves offer a unique nutty flavor. This plant likes cold weather so, for best results, plant early in spring and late in the summer. For summer harvest, plant in the shade or under floating row covers where it's cooler.
Arugula turns bitter in the heat of summer.
Cress is a more challenging plant to grow in Colorado's intense sun. It's ready to harvest in as little as 14 days after spring planting. Part day shade is best particularly when weather turns warm. Both curly cress, also known as peppergrass, and broadleaf cress thrive in ordinary garden soil and provide for repeat harvests before going to seed. For fiery greens that are a culinary delight, grow Japanese mustards.