Your comments and tips

12 Jan 10, Jason (Central Coast NSW) (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Rocket would have to be one of the easiest greens i have grown. Even in my soil which is a bit heavy on clay, Rocket thrives. I have mixed some manure and gypsum though the soil with the occasion multi purpose fertiliser. Throw some seeds around and they spout in no time. Pick the leaves as you need them. I let them go to seed, then harvest the hundreds of seeds for the next round of planting. So easy!

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24 Feb 10, Cheryl (Australia - temperate climate)

Rocket grows well, but in no time it became extremely bitter, I cut it right back, but the new growth is the same

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18 Jun 10, john langford (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

like you cheryl, my rocket is extremely bitter ... can't find any comments about this ... am sure our 'bitter' is not the same as 'peppery' ... john, sunshine coast qld

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19 Jun 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

A bit more watering might reduce the bitterness. Most leafy things go bitter if they ever get stressed by heat or lack of water.

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04 Aug 10, Katie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I split my rocket to grab more sun and it has wilted over the next day, I don't think I should of split the plant in July? Any ideas..... is it the cold?

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22 Oct 10, Lisa Hopkinson (Australia - arid climate)

Should you let your roquet plants flower? How do you get them to keep sprouting new leaves? If they go to flower - how long does it take for them to go to seed? Do they survive beyond the flowering period?

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25 Oct 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Once they seed they're basically finished for producing leaves and die off when the seed pods have developed. The leaves get very narrow and tough. The flowers are edible, but pretty tasteless. I generally let a couple go to seed to get more plants, and toss the rest.

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08 Nov 10, darren (Australia - temperate climate)

In regards to the bitterness, it is known that rocket is tastier when they are smaller, and as it flowers and goes to seed, the leaves get bitter. Best thing to do is cut the flowers and force the flower back into vegetative state. Good luck

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11 Nov 10, Jill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I just planted my seedlings about 2 weeks back and they are growing but flowering. Should I nip the flowers off? Will that allow them to grow longer? This is the first time I have grown this type of plant. Help please

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11 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)

You could just pick the flower out and let them keep growing but as a rule when rocket flowers it becomes bitter and not very nice to eat.The problem with using a seedling with rocket is when u plant the seedling it can sometimes give the plant the wrong message and make it think its going to die so they go into survival mode hence the early flowers. I would recommend that you pull them up and start again. Try direct sowing seeds they have a very high germination rate so are not hard to grow from seeds. Also i would suggest you grow them in a pot because they have the potential to become a weed in gardens and turf.

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