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 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 8 inches 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
11 Mar 24, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am looking for Winter Rocket..... is this just another name for seeds I buy as rocket.. or what do I look for?
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22 Mar 24, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate)
Arugula another name. You do not need to plant it every year - for example, in my garden (Perth) they grow and self-seed all year round! Just let them do their own things. Technically, my garden is in Automatic mode, other plants do exactly the same.
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19 Mar 24, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up an internet site to see the different varieties.
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03 Feb 21, Debbie Millington (Australia - temperate climate)
learning to grow rocket. When flowers appear, should I pluck them off? When picking rocket to eat should I pluck off individual leaves or snip off a stalk? Many thanks
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05 Feb 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pick before flowering ans just take few leaves or stalks at a time.
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26 Jun 20, Steve Haigh (Australia - tropical climate)
i'm actually in Thailand but that wasn't an option so i chose Australia tropical. what tips would you give for hot and humid climates? should i put in indirect light or in the open with shade cloth? what about watering, should i mist to keep to cooler? thanks
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29 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - tropical climate)
You have to look through the different climate zones to see how planting times vary in different zones. By this website they advise against growing rocket in the tropics. You could counter this by putting in a very light shade cloth 10-20% if you can buy it, I have 30% cloth but it is only for protection while seedlings establish the first week after planting out. If you use artificial light it has to have red and blue light, like a fluro. Watering would be about keeping the soil moist not wet. It is a bit of trial and error to work things out when you are new to things.
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25 Mar 19, Annika Irving (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi! If I put a polypropylene tunnel over the rocket, will it survive during winter? I'm in Nelson. We do get morning frosts in my area. Cheers, Annika
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08 Feb 18, Amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
My roquettes new leaves are starting to have hairs on the leaves and stems? What does this mean and can i eat them?
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09 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm not a rocket grower - maybe that is the variety. Maybe it is coming to the end of its growing cycle.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 103 comments
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I am trying to grow rockets but every day the leaves has small holes in them almost like it gets eaten by small insects. How do I look after it to harvest a nice healthy leaf without any holes?

- Doreen

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