Growing Rocket, also Arugula/Rucola

Eruca vesicaria : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
      P P     P        

(Best months for growing Rocket in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 20 cm apart
  • Harvest in 21-35 days.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lettuce
  • 'Wild' rocket (narrow leaves)
  • Mature plant

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

14 Aug 08, jenni (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just started a vege garden and have planted some rocket can you cut this as you need it and it regrows or is it a harvest once and the plant is finished. I also assume Celery and Broccoli are harvest once plants.
15 Aug 08, Turnaferbit (Australia - temperate climate)
Rocket is an annual plant. It will come up from seed year after year. You will never be without it, but is easy to pull out. It is a weed in some areas. I have never liked the taste, and always thought it tasted and smelt like Turps. (yes the bottle of Turps used to remove oil paint). Try Googleing the botanical name and its chemicals, then Google those names and you will come up with a surprise............... No wonder I thought it smelt like Turps. Happy gardening Turnaferbit.
16 Aug 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Yes, Jenni, you can cut a few leaves of rocket as you need them. You will find that once it flowers, you will need to replace it. You are right about celery but broccoli will send up some side shoots after you cut the main one out and extend the harvest time.
16 Aug 08, Addy (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
I grow rocket all year round here in Brisbane, I just keep picking the leaves till the plant goes to seed. To keep growing leaves I break off the budding tips and it grows almost bushy. Broccoli puts out side shoots and more florets after the first main "globe" is cut off.
16 Mar 09, Grayham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Greetings, My rocket has stunted growth. It did well initially but has done little since. It's come up about 10 cm but isn't florishing and the leaves are yellowing. Any ideas? Regards, Grayham
17 Jul 09, Will (Australia - temperate climate)
hey Grayham, Might be a iron deficiency....symptom is yellow leaves
01 Sep 09, Gas38 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I absolutely love rocket. When it goes to seed, can you use the seed to replant again? What should you do? Thanks.
21 Sep 09, Samantha (Australia - tropical climate)
I run a small restaurant actually in India. I've been wanting to grow Rucola for some time now to supply the restaurant, but am not sure if it would survive and the conditions it needs to thrive... can anyone help? Ta.
09 May 11, PS (Australia - tropical climate)
Samantha: yes it will grow and do quite well too, if you follow the tips in this forum. I know because I live in India too and my arugula plants are thriving.
25 Nov 09, Kathryn (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm no expert gardener, but I planted seedlings of rocket in the vegie patch about 4 yrs ago. I picked leaves whenever I needed them and pinched off anything looking like flowers and just dropped them in the gdn. The second yr, the plants were not very active, but I left them in - mainly thru laziness. Since then, they just keep producing. Not massive plants, but enough to meet our needs. A bit of mulch, water and occasional manure, but really they haven't had much care at all and they are better now than they have ever been. This yr, there are now numerous seedlings - very strong-tasting and robust plants. Good luck. Kathryn
Showing 1 - 10 of 124 comments

How do you stop rocket from flowering and if it does do you remove the flower heads to prolong the plant ? I'm a complete novice so any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Regards Ann.

- Ann Leckning

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