Select your climate zone Australia - arid Australia - cool/mountain Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - cool/mountain New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical South Africa - Humid sub-tropical South Africa - Semi-arid South Africa - Summer rainfall United Kingdom - cool/temperate United Kingdom - warm/temperate USA - Central West Coast USA - Maritime Northwest USA - Mid-Atlantic USA - North East USA - South East and Gulf States USA - South West USA - Upper Midwest What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
		P	P	P			P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Rocket in Australia - temperate regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Plant every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous supply. Leafy green plant with lobed, dark green leaves. It has a slightly spicy, nutty flavour. The spiciness intensifies as the plant gets older.

Frost tender.

Keep well watered in well drained ground. Will go to flower rapidly in hot dry weather.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rocket

Use in salads and stir-fry

Your comments and tips

31 Jan 12, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)

I have planted rocket and my leaves are going red. The red seems to get more pronounced once picked. What could be causing this?

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01 Feb 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Mine are doing the same. I haven't dared taste them yet. Some are growing normally but lots have turned red. I would guess some sort of stress has affected them.

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04 Feb 12, Ali (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My rocket is red as well and is growing really slowly. I havent been able to pick any yet and I planted it end of november any ideas?

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14 Jan 12, Kent (Australia - tropical climate)

I planted mine in October here in South Africa, our climate is very similar to Australia tropics. They were great for the first 2 months, they were ready for constant picking after week 2, we had rocket every day. (We planted 2 square meters, crowded) When summer started to kick in mid December they rapidly began to flower, we found some eggs on the leaves, which we washed off before eating. The leaves became stronger as it aged, at 2 months it became a little too spicy and strong for me. A week later we found caterpillars all over the leaves, we left them there, we're hoping that when they metamorph into butterflies they will move elsewhere. If the rocket dies, I won't be too worried, there are bound to be seeds waiting to be revived. The seeds are easy enough to propagate anyway. As soon as the weather cools down a bit, I will replant them, they grow rapidly and are 99% more economical and at least 50% tastier than store bought, even with their short lifespan taken into consideration.

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30 Dec 11, Daisy Lee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have planted some rockets in my garden. It was growing very well. Suddenly I noticed that the leaves have white lumpy spots on the under side. I dare not eat them. Can you please advise me what to do and what causes the white spots. Thank you.

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22 Oct 11, Grace Elliott (Australia - temperate climate)

I've never grown rocket before so didn't realise how quickly it grows. Mine has already started to flower so does that mean it is too old to eat?

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26 Aug 11, Peter B (Australia - temperate climate)

I've got Rocket growing nicely in a large raised wicking garden bed but I have staqrted to see lots of yellowing leaves mainly around the base of the plants - anyone know why this might be? Too wet, dry, sunny, not enough food? I have been feeding with soluble fertiliser every 2 weeks. Maybe it's normal - It's my first veggie garden so not sure.

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01 Jan 12, Jacqui (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have the same problem, did you find a solution??

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02 Feb 12, Peter B (Australia - temperate climate)

Sorry Jacqui, no solution, I just resow in an propagator (you know the Yates seed tray with the clear lid) every couple of weeks and replace them as they go off. hot weather sends them to flower but the next batch is ready to go seems the best solution, they grow very fast anyway. Cheers

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25 Apr 11, shelley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi we had the same trouble with the small flies so we went to Bunnings and bought a fruit fly trap it was around $10.00 and hung it from our bean trellis and it works a treat, no more flies and we are happy to not have had to spray our vegie patch with chemicals. We did try a homemade non-chemical treatment but unfortunately it didn't work and burnt a few of the leaves.

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