When to plant arugula in Colorado
Colorado’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 1 — about 149 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a). Arugula needs 30–40 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Colorado's growing season.
Colorado covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant arugula in Colorado: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 2 – Apr 21. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 75°F.
Succession sow again in Colorado: Apr 19 · May 1 · May 13 · May 25 · Jun 6
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow arugula in Colorado, step by step
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 8 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Apr 2 – Apr 21). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart, sowing seed ¼ inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Colorado.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: flea beetle, aphids, cabbage worm. Diseases and disorders: downy mildew, white rust.
- Harvest (from about May 7 – May 17). Arugula takes 30-40 days to reach harvest. One of the fastest crops - baby leaves in about 3 weeks. Turns sharp and bitter and bolts in heat, so it is a spring/fall green. Flea beetles love it; grow under mesh.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Colorado’s average frost dates. More in the full arugula growing guide.
Arugula planting dates by USDA zone in Colorado
Colorado spans USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the arugula dates shift with them.
When to plant arugula in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Colorado ask
When is the best time to plant arugula in Colorado?
Sow arugula in Colorado between April 2 and April 21. That timing is set by Colorado's average last spring frost of May 5; Colorado spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant arugula in the fall in Colorado?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 10 and August 27, so the crop matures in cool weather before Colorado's first frost around October 1.
When will arugula planted in Colorado be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, arugula is usually ready from about May 7 to May 17, 30-40 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Colorado?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 1 - about 149 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.