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
    P P P P P P P P    

(Best months for growing Rocket in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • 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

Your comments and tips

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?
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
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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.
17 Jul 09, Will (Australia - temperate climate)
hey Grayham, Might be a iron deficiency....symptom is yellow leaves
Showing 111 - 120 of 125 comments

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