"biig" > wrote in message ...
>
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>
>> "biig" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > Well a few weeks ago I planted some from a seed pack with the usual
>> > picture of mature arugula. It sprouted and is growing beautifully,
>> > but,
>> > it doesn't look anything like arugula. It has leaves that are jagged,
>> > not like an elongated oak leaf. I used the same seed pack in the
>> > spring
>> > when I tried to grow it with a "grow light" and it looks nothing like
>> > it
>> > did when it sprouted that time.????? Have I been duped, or is it
>> > normal for it to start out jagged? I can't post a
>> > pic......Help!!....Sharon
>>
>> Arugula gets an attitude when grown in hot weather. The leaves look
>> different than those grown in early spring, and they get bitter more
>> quickly.
>>
>> I use fence wire to make a tunnel over my cool weather crops, like this,
>> but
>> smaller, obviously:
>> http://www.steelmasterusa.com/pages/...llery/X/1.html
>>
>> Mine cover 2 rows because that makes the tunnels small enough to lift off
>> easily without clobbering other nearby plants. On top of the tunnels,
>> I've
>> attached grey window screen to cut down on the sunlight. It helps with
>> arugula, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard and quite a few other things whose
>> seed packets say "Plant in early spring, and again in mid to late summer
>> for
>> a fall crop". I want these things all summer, so this is my method.
>
> That must be the problem. I have it in a large glazed bowl, about 18
> inches across. The bowl has an unglazed bottom, so I'm assuming that
> the water won't stay in long enough to rot the roots. I can't shield it
> because I have basil in the same pot. We've had hot weather and the
> plant gets a lot of sun. Maybe I should move the basil. Is your
> arugual too bitter to use? I tried it and expected a nice peppery
> flavour, but there wasn't much flavour at all. .......Sharon

Your bowl is about 4 feet too small, Sharon. Someplace in your yard, take a
trowel, loosen the soil down to 6 inches, and stick your hand in. Now, do
the same with any of your flower pots. Notice the temperature difference.
Many plants will not put up with their root systems being warm. Unless you
can find a way to shade the pots, you'll never have success with certain
plants.