Arugula (Jarjeer)
جرجير
The Gulf classic — fast, forgiving, and eaten at every majlis table.
💧 Summer water
Daily
💧 Winter water
Every 2 days
☀️ Sunlight
Partial sun
🔥 Heat
Mild heat OK
🌱 Difficulty
Easy
⏱️ To harvest
30–45 days
🪴 Containers
Yes, grows in pots
📅 Best sowing
Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Planting calendar (UAE)
💧 Watering
Keep the top 2–3 cm of soil consistently moist. In sandy soil water lightly and often rather than deeply and rarely — arugula bolts (goes to flower) the moment it dries out or overheats.
☀️ Sunlight
4–6 hours of morning sun is plenty. In October and March give it afternoon shade to delay bolting.
🪨 Soil & setup
Any well-draining potting mix. Mix 30% compost into local sandy soil. It is not fussy about nutrients.
🧺 Harvest
Cut outer leaves from 30 days and the plant keeps producing for 4–6 weeks. Harvest in the morning for the best flavour.
🧓 Grandmother's notes
- ◆Sow a small batch every 2 weeks from October for a continuous winter supply.
- ◆Leaves get peppery and bitter as heat rises — that's your sign the season is ending.
- ◆Let one plant flower and self-seed; it often returns on its own next autumn.