Many people like to diversify their vegetable menu with such a representative of the Cruciferous family as arugula. What is it and what is its health benefit? Let's get acquainted with this wonderful plant, and at the same time we will find out what are the features of its cultivation.
Arugula - what is it and what does it eat with?
This herbaceous biennial is common in the Middle East. However, in our time it is easily grown around the world. Arugula (“grass” for weight loss) gained such popularity after its ability to positively affect metabolism was revealed. It is a natural source of vitamins, iodine. The plant tones the entire body, increases libido and hemoglobin level, helps to remove cholesterol. Also, magic arugula (what it is for a gardener, we will discuss in this article) helps prevent stomach ulcers, has antibacterial, hepatoprotective and antitussive effects. In India, hematomas and polyps are treated with the juice of this plant, and skin diseases are treated with seeds. Arugula is also very important for a gourmet - this is one of those leafy vegetables that can be combined with almost anything. As with other vegetables (spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes and others), and with meat, cereals, cottage cheese. You can decorate dishes with a arugula or serve it with cold appetizers.
Garden arugula
What is it and how is it used in food, we found out.
The next good news is that this plant is very adaptable to a variety of climatic conditions. It can grow almost throughout Russia, with the exception of the coldest regions. Below we will analyze the subtleties and features that will allow you to keep the refined nutty spicy taste that it is famous for in arugula. This plant is cold-resistant, grows well on various soils. Surprisingly, for a long time, arugula (called arugula, eruca and rocket salad) was considered a weed! Several adapted breeding varieties are bred from wild plants. Variety Solitaire - the most fragrant of them - has a mustard taste due to the content of mustard oil in the leaves . An additional bonus for the summer resident - rucola improves the condition of the soil and repels mosquitoes. It contains a high percentage of sulfur and nitrogen.
Rucola salad . Cultivation and care
Varieties of Solitaire and Poker are very easy to cultivate. On the windowsill, they will grow all year round. In the garden - from April to August. The seedling method is very effective - thanks to it you will get an early harvest. Small arugula seeds are first sown in cups five millimeters deep. On the fifth day shoots appear that need to be regularly watered and then dive. Their survival rate is quite high. In a box they need to be planted at a distance of up to forty centimeters. Experienced vegetable growers say that this (a sufficient interval between the bushes) affects the taste of rucola leaves. This plant is very fond of light, also needs regular watering. You can cut the leaves on the twentieth day.