Rocket (also known as Arugula in some parts of the world) is a popular salad green that has a nutty flavour with a strong, peppery bite.

Culinary Uses

Rocket is great raw in salads, or added as a garnish to pizza or omelette.  Cover the harvested leaves with water in a bowl and place in the fridge overnight to reduce the bitterness if harvesting from older or stressed plants.

Cultivation

Salad Rocket is easy to grow and will self-seed in the garden if given a chance.  Rocket tends to bolt to flower and become bitter in hot weather.  Keep well watered to avoid the plants becoming limp.  Young Rocket seedlings won't tolerate frosts.  Prefers well-drained soil in a full sun location, but also grows well in partial shade.

When To Sow

Rocket seeds can be successfully sown over most of the year.  In the subtropics Rocket can be sown anytime from March to October.  In temperate regions you can sow in Autumn from March to May, and and again as the weather warms up from August to November.  If you live in an area with cold, frosty Winters, Rocket seed are best sown from March to May and again from September to November.  Unfortunately Salad Rocket does not grow well in the tropics.

How To Sow

Space plants about 20cm apart, for best results you can either sow a few seeds into each planting hole or scatter sow and thin to the healthiest seedlings once they emerge.  Rocket seeds sould be sown or lightly raked into the soil about 4mm deep.

Germination Time

Germination of Rocket seed can be sporadic, but you should see most of the seeds germinating within a timeframe of 7 to 21 days.

Time To Harvest

Salad Rocket is best harvested when young, between 3 to 5 weeks, as after this time the pepper-flavour of the leaves intensifies and becomes too strong for most people to enjoy.  Sow a few seeds every week to ensure a continuing supply of the youngest, best-flavoured leaves.