Can you use arugula flowers?

Arugula has been used in Europe for ages. Thanks to its well-known peppery taste it is loved by many of us, especially those who like a bit of tangy taste. Arugula blooms at the end of the season and produces white flowers that attract beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators. Once flowers appear you should not harvest leaves. If you want seeds, leave one or two flowers on the plant and harvest seeds later.

Arugula salad

Arugula (Eruca sativa) is a leafy green with a strong flavour somewhat similar to pepper. You can grow it in early spring or late autumn. Flowers appear about 8 to 10 weeks after planting and offer a slightly bitter, peppery flavour. You may use flowers to decorate any vegetable salad. Petals are typical for green and purple veins. Arugula may produce flowers earlier if the weather is hot. To delay flowering, keep the pot in a partially shaded place.

Photo: Pixabay

Using flowers

If you let the plant bloom you will get white flowers. These are attractive to bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects but they also attract slugs and snails. People sometimes use flowers as a bait for traps. Arugula flowers are edible and offer the same taste as leaves. Collect flowers or leaves right before use because they wilt very quickly. Flowers are a great addition to salads, pizzas or used as a garnish for any dish, such as pasta.

Arugula seeds

If you want seeds, leave few flowers on the plant to mature. When flowers turn brown, cut them off with scissors and place them carefully into a paper bag. After about two weeks, flowers should dry out completely and you can gently crush them to release the seeds. Put seeds in a paper bag and store in a cool, dry place. If you leave flowers on plants they will lose their seeds and fall to the ground. Next year you will have many new plants without any effort…

Source:

https://www.urbangardengal.com/how-to-use-arugula-flowers
https://hobbyrecepty.cz/rukola-seta-salatu

Preview photo: Pixabay