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When to Plant Arugula in Fallon, NV

Churchill County, Nevada Zone 7a June

June to-do list for Churchill County, Nevada

Your Churchill County, Nevada garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for June and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 8
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Sow arugula in trays indoors

    These need a head start before your last frost (May 8). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Bring in the arugula

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Coming up in July — start thinking about
  • First harvests: arugula
  • Fall sowing: arugula

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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.

Fallon, Nevada is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 152 days.

At an elevation of 5,306 feet, Churchill County receives approximately 8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 99°F, so Arugula may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Arugula will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Arugula successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Fallon, NV (Zone 7a) Moderate season
152 days
Last Spring Frost May 8
152 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Fallon Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.9-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Arugula Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Aug 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 8

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 Fallon

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.9–8.3) is more alkaline than Arugula prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Churchill County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Arugula will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Arugula.

How to Plant Arugula

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

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Arugula

6
successive plantings in your 152-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 29.

Arugula Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.2″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 615 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Arugula

Arugula needs approximately 0.6 inches of water per week (2.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Arugula Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 0.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 0.2" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.6" 0.3" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 1.4" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.6" 1.5" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.6" 1" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.6" 0.8" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Churchill County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Arugula Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Arugula needs ~970 GDD — county provides 3,686 GDD Excellent fit

Arugula Planting Timeline — Fallon, NV

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 8 May 8 – May 22
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 – Aug 14
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 – Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.6"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

152 days in Churchill County

Growing Tips for Arugula in Fallon

Direct sow Arugula outdoors after May 08 in Churchill County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Churchill County dries quickly — mulch Arugula with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Churchill County reach 99°F — grow Arugula as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Your generous 152.0-day season in Churchill 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌱

Your Churchill County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Churchill County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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