Plant guide
Arugula (Rocket)
Eruca vesicaria
الجرجير
Aromatic peppery green leaves used as a natural laxative and digestive stimulant. Good for general weakness and as blood detoxifier. Hair-strengthening seed oil.
Monthly care guide
Guidance to adapt to your plant and conditions, not a fixed watering schedule.
◉ Water 1
Water Arugula (Rocket)
Soak the root zone, then leave the surface to dry between sessions. Avoid wetting foliage.
Cool-season vegetables and herbs in Dubai grow Oct–Mar — deep watering encourages roots that survive the next heat wave.
Weekly check
❧ Feed 1
Apply compound NPK to Arugula (Rocket)
Apply a compound NPK fertiliser (Nitrogen + Phosphorus + Potassium together) per package label. Sprinkle on the pot surface around the plant, away from the stem, then water in immediately. OR use a foliar spray at the package-recommended dilution.
Yaqut recommends compound NPK over single-nutrient fertilisers — they cover the macronutrients in one application, which suits the small-volume substrate of a rooftop pot.
Monthly check
Source: Bostan Al-Maarifa — Home Cultivation for Rooftops and Balconies (Yaqut, 2006)
✂ Prune 1
Pinch tips on Arugula (Rocket)
Pinch back growing tips to the second leaf pair to encourage bushy, productive growth.
Apical tip removal triggers side-branching — more leaves, more harvest, less bolting.
Monthly check
◎ Inspect 1
Scout Arugula (Rocket) for pests
Check undersides of leaves and growing tips for aphids, whitefly and caterpillars. Knock pests off with a strong water spray.
Annual crops grow fast and have soft tissue — small infestations escalate within days in UAE warmth.
Weekly check
Planting and safety details
Planting months: October · November · December · January · February
Year-round planting. Light soil, irrigation 2-3 days. Harvest after 30-45 days when plant fully grown, then continuous cuts every 3-4 days. Bostan Al-Maarifa — Home Cultivation for Rooftops and Balconies (Yaqut, 2006)
No toxicity warning is recorded here. That is not confirmation that the plant is safe to eat or handle.