Arugula: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:19, 31 May 2025

Introduction

Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa, commonly known as arugula, salad rocket, or garden rocket, is an annual plant belonging to the family Brassicaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has been widely cultivated for its leaves, which are used as a leaf vegetable due to their peppery flavor^[1]^[2]^[3]. The plant is also known for its historical use in ancient Roman and Greek cuisine, and it continues to be a popular ingredient in salads today^[4]^[5].

Characteristics

Physical Characteristics: Arugula grows up to 3 feet tall and has pinnate leaves that are deeply lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe^[6]. The flowers are typically white or yellow, arranged in a corymb, and the fruit is a siliqua containing several seeds^[7]^[8].
Growing Conditions: It thrives in a variety of habitats, including roadsides, disturbed areas, and cultivated fields. It can grow at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet^[9]^[10].
Lifecycle: As an annual plant, it completes its lifecycle within a year. It is usually propagated by seeds and can be harvested continuously as needed since the leaves do not store well^[11]^[12].

Why is this crop useful for space?

Arugula could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons: - Nutritional Value: It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, making it a valuable source of nutrients in space missions where maintaining a balanced diet is crucial^[13]. - Easy to Grow: Its ability to thrive in controlled environments with minimal space requirements makes it suitable for hydroponic or aeroponic systems often used in space agriculture^[14]. - Low Maintenance: As an annual plant, it has a short growth cycle, which can provide a quick turnaround for continuous harvests in space, where resources are limited^[15]^[16].

History of Cultivation in Space (if there is any)

There is no specific information available on the cultivation of Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa in space. However, plants like lettuce and radish have been grown in space as part of experiments to develop sustainable food systems for long-duration space missions. The principles learned from these experiments could potentially be applied to arugula cultivation in space.

Note: While there is no specific mention of arugula in space cultivation, the general principles of growing leafy greens in space could be relevant. For detailed information on space cultivation experiments, NASA’s Vegetable Production System (Veggie) and similar projects provide insights into growing plants in microgravity environments.

References

[1] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria

[2] ttp://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html

[3] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)

[4] ttp://floranorthamerica.org/Eruca_vesicaria_subsp._sativa

[5] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)

[6] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)

[7] ttps://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/eruca/vesicaria

[8] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)

[9] ttp://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html

[10] ttp://floranorthamerica.org/Eruca_vesicaria_subsp._sativa

[11] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria

[12] ttp://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html

[13] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)

[14] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria

[15] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria

[16] ttp://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{PlantProfile
-| scientific_name = Eruca sativa
+| scientific_name = Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa
 | family = Brassicaceae
-| varieties = <li>Dragon's tongue (ID: 78)</li>
+| varieties = <li>Default (ID: 29)</li>
 }}
 <span id="introduction"></span>
 == Introduction ==
-'''Eruca sativa''', commonly known as arugula, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. Although it is sometimes referred to as ''Eruca vesicaria'' or ''E. vesicaria'' subsp. ''sativa'', ''Eruca sativa'' is a widely recognized name for this plant<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. Arugula is native to the Mediterranean region and has been cultivated since Roman times for its peppery, nutritious leaves<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. It is valued for its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a popular ingredient in salads and other dishes<ref>https://climapod.com/the-arugula-eruca-sativa</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>.
+'''Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa''', commonly known as '''arugula''', '''salad rocket''', or '''garden rocket''', is an annual plant belonging to the family '''Brassicaceae'''. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has been widely cultivated for its leaves, which are used as a leaf vegetable due to their peppery flavor<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria</ref><ref>http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. The plant is also known for its historical use in ancient Roman and Greek cuisine, and it continues to be a popular ingredient in salads today<ref>http://floranorthamerica.org/Eruca_vesicaria_subsp._sativa</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>.
 <span id="characteristics"></span>
 == Characteristics ==
-* '''Physical Characteristics''': Arugula is an annual plant that grows up to 20 to 100 cm in height. Its leaves are deeply lobed, resembling those of dark green oak leaf lettuce, and can be harvested in as little as 20 days after sowing<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. The plant produces creamy white flowers with purple veins, which are edible and used as a garnish<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>.
+* '''Physical Characteristics''': Arugula grows up to 3 feet tall and has pinnate leaves that are deeply lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. The flowers are typically white or yellow, arranged in a corymb, and the fruit is a siliqua containing several seeds<ref>https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/eruca/vesicaria</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>.
-* '''Growing Conditions''': Arugula prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is a cool-season crop, tolerating light frost, and can be grown in containers or directly in the ground<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>. Successive plantings every 2-3 weeks ensure a continuous supply of fresh leaves<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>.
+* '''Growing Conditions''': It thrives in a variety of habitats, including roadsides, disturbed areas, and cultivated fields. It can grow at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet<ref>http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html</ref><ref>http://floranorthamerica.org/Eruca_vesicaria_subsp._sativa</ref>.
-* '''Lifecycle''': Arugula grows quickly from seed, maturing in about 40 to 50 days under optimal conditions. It can bolt (go to seed) if exposed to high temperatures or long days, but this can be managed by providing light shade during hot weather<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>.
+* '''Lifecycle''': As an annual plant, it completes its lifecycle within a year. It is usually propagated by seeds and can be harvested continuously as needed since the leaves do not store well<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria</ref><ref>http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html</ref>.
 <span id="why-is-this-crop-useful-for-space"></span>
 == Why is this crop useful for space? ==
-Arugula is a promising crop for space cultivation due to several factors: - '''Nutritional Value''': It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron, making it an excellent choice for maintaining nutritional health in space missions<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. - '''Growth Characteristics''': As a fast-growing crop, arugula can provide a quick source of fresh produce in controlled environments like hydroponics or aeroponics, which are often used in space agriculture<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>. - '''Low Resource Requirements''': Arugula requires minimal space and can thrive in a variety of lighting conditions, making it suitable for compact growing systems in space<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref>.
+Arugula could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons: - '''Nutritional Value''': It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, making it a valuable source of nutrients in space missions where maintaining a balanced diet is crucial<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref>. - '''Easy to Grow''': Its ability to thrive in controlled environments with minimal space requirements makes it suitable for hydroponic or aeroponic systems often used in space agriculture<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria</ref>. - '''Low Maintenance''': As an annual plant, it has a short growth cycle, which can provide a quick turnaround for continuous harvests in space, where resources are limited<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eruca-vesicaria</ref><ref>http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Brassicaceae/Eruca%20vesicaria%20ssp.%20sativa,%20Salad%20Rocket.html</ref>.
 <span id="history-of-cultivation-in-space-if-there-is-any"></span>
 == History of Cultivation in Space (if there is any) ==
-While there are no specific records of ''Eruca sativa'' being cultivated in space, there have been experiments with other Brassicaceae family members, such as lettuce and radishes, in space environments. For example, NASA’s Veggie experiment on the International Space Station has successfully grown lettuce and other leafy greens using hydroponic systems<ref>http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/arugula-eruca-sativa</ref>. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of growing similar crops like arugula in space, but specific trials for arugula have not been documented.
+There is no specific information available on the cultivation of '''Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa''' in space. However, plants like lettuce and radish have been grown in space as part of experiments to develop sustainable food systems for long-duration space missions. The principles learned from these experiments could potentially be applied to arugula cultivation in space.
-'''References:''' - <ref>https://climapod.com/the-arugula-eruca-sativa</ref> Climapod Gardening Articles: Growing Arugula - <ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/arugula</ref> Wisconsin Horticulture: Arugula, Eruca sativa - <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_(salad)</ref> Wikipedia: Rocket (salad) - <ref>http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/arugula-eruca-sativa</ref> NASA: Veggie Experiment on ISS (Note: While not directly referenced in the search results, this is a well-known example of space cultivation experiments.)
+Note: While there is no specific mention of arugula in space cultivation, the general principles of growing leafy greens in space could be relevant. For detailed information on space cultivation experiments, NASA’s Vegetable Production System (Veggie) and similar projects provide insights into growing plants in microgravity environments.
 == References ==
 <references />