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When to Plant Arugula in Morrison County, MN

Arugula is a fast-growing cool-season green with a peppery, nutty flavor. It is excellent in salads and can be harvested as baby greens or mature leaves.

Morrison County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 155 days.

At an elevation of 1,070 feet, Morrison County receives approximately 40 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Arugula to ensure they mature before fall.

Morrison County, MN (Zone 4a) Moderate season
155 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
155 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Morrison County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 26

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Morrison County

How your county's soil matches Arugula's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“7.1) overlaps with Arugula's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Morrison County is excellent for Arugula โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) โ€” Arugula will thrive.

How to Plant Arugula

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Arugula

6
successive plantings in your 155-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Arugula needs ~400 GDD — county provides 1,550 GDD Excellent fit

Arugula Planting Timeline โ€” Morrison County, MN

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors May 4 May 4 โ€“ May 18
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 18
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Jul 28
Harvest June 8 Jun 8 โ€“ Aug 10

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.6"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

155 days in Morrison County

Growing Tips for Arugula in Morrison County

Direct sow Arugula outdoors after May 04 in Morrison County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 155.0-day season in Morrison County allows multiple plantings of Arugula. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Arugula in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Sow seeds directly every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather to prevent bolting. Harvest outer leaves first to extend production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Arugula in Morrison County, MN?

Morrison County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Morrison County, MN?

Morrison County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Morrison County gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Morrison County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.