Rainline Garden

When to plant arugula in Olympia, WA

Plant arugula from seed, directly in the garden in Olympia, Mar 18 – Apr 29. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 26 – Sep 16.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Olympia's typical last spring frost is April 29. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
Thin to 4 inches apart
Planting depth
¼ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 35 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds Mar 18 – Apr 29, ¼ inch deep, Thin to 4 inches apart.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Plant again Aug 26 – Sep 16 for a fall harvest.
  5. Harvest: Pick leaves when they're 2 to 3 inches long, about three weeks after sowing. Young leaves are the mildest.

Varieties that do well here

  • Astro
  • Wild arugula (Sylvetta)
  • Rocket

Watch out for

Flea beetles riddle the leaves with tiny holes in spring. Floating row cover laid on at sowing keeps them off.

Fast and frost-tolerant. It bolts in heat, so sow small batches in spring and again in late summer.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Olympia, WA?

Typically April 29. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Olympia Airport.

Is it too late to plant arugula in Olympia?

The spring planting window runs through April 29. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 26 to September 16.

How long until I can harvest arugula?

About 35 days after planting. Pick leaves when they're 2 to 3 inches long, about three weeks after sowing. Young leaves are the mildest.

Also plant in Olympia around the same time

Planting dates for arugula in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Olympia · Arugula in every city