Arugula turning purple and yellow

10 years ago

Hey all,

I'll attach a photo below: some of our high tunnel arugula is failing to size up, turning yellow and purple rather than forming nice, full, green leaves.

1) It's not lack of water.

2) No aphids on the beds.

3) We add a significant amount of high quality compost when replanting beds, so I don't think it's a fertility issue.

4) I don't think it's from overheating, because it's happening on one of our outdoor beds (under row cover) as well as in the tunnels.

It's also spotty on the beds- in some spots we have nice arugula that's either full size or seemingly on its way to full size; in other spots we have terrible growth.

I will say that these are movable hoophouses, so the arugula was originally seeded outside, and we did have some heavy rains--so over watering could be the issue. I've just never seen this kind of growth problem, and don't really know how to diagnose it.

Thanks y'all.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
We add a significant amount of high quality compost when replanting beds, so I don't think it's a fertility issue.

==>> did you test it.. to see what it actually is???? ... your presumption might be wrong ...

how do we rule out cold damage... or slowness due to such .... where are you???

how much sunlight are they getting ... i am wondering if with winter low intensity sun ... plus the covering.. if they are starved for usable light ...

just some ideas???

ken
kimmq
10 years ago
Where in the world are you?

What kind of temperatures are you experiencing?

Leaves turning purple often indicate a lack of Phosphorus, often because the soil is too cold.

Yellowing of leaves, chlorosis, has numerous causes and this article is about the best I have found on that.

http://extension.illinois.edu/focus/index.cfm?problem=chlorosis

kimmq is kimmsr
Related Professionals
Asheville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Georgetown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tyler Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rockford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fall River Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hudson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Florence Landscape Contractors · Salina Landscape Contractors · Saint Joseph Landscape Contractors · McComb Landscape Contractors · Greenville Kitchen Remodelers · Philadelphia Kitchen Remodelers · Middletown Kitchen Remodelers · Clearlake Kitchen Remodelers · Victoria Kitchen Remodelers
Sundee Campbell
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Aloha from Hawaii! I grow arugula at a nursery to sell for home gardening and have the same issue! I don’t have your temperature problems. I use the same soil mix for all of my greens, and arugula is the only crop that does this. I hope you were able to troubleshoot and resolve the deficiencies and/or toxicity causing the rainbow arugula! Do you have an update for us?

Your post hints to water stress. Perhaps that is my problem too.