Arugula is a green. No, I should say it is at least three different greens. Arugula harvested in the winter, after it has been through several hard frosts, is totally different than summer arugula. Cold weather arugula is mild, sort of peanuty tasting. Full size summer arugula is for those who like a “bite”. Baby arugula is in between, and a great addition to salad mix, though a little can go a long way.
Those descriptions are for uncooked arugula. I know a chef who substituted arugula in place of spinach after the industrial spinach scare a few years ago, as a side dish and on pizza. Folks have liked it. Cook like spinach.
Flea beetles are little tiny beetles that love arugula. We put row cover over the arugula to protect it, but they sometimes come up out of the ground, and I have seen them eat through the row cover. We try, but sometimes the arugula will be “pock marked” with holes. They just make holes, they don’t leave excrement behind.
Emma, a member of our CSA sent me the following:
