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      

(Best months for growing Rocket in USA - Zone 7a 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If it is flowering it will not produce more leaves. Let it go to seed and you will have hundreds of new seeds. Save some in a paper bag or envelope with the name and date on it and then let the rest drop to the ground where they will self sow. You will have an abundance of microgreens which you can snip off with scissors and you can let some grow on to harvest the leaves. Trust this helps.
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Dec 16, Ann Leckning (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Rocket is an annual and will naturally go to seed in one season. you can delay this for a while by removing the flower stalks. The best thing to do is let some flower and go to seed. The resultant seedlings that emerge will be prolific and delectable. this is one vegetable that happily regrows. Trust this helps.
Reply or Post a new comment
24 Oct 16, Robert serve ti (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy rocket seeds I live in Sydney
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Oct 16, Dennis C (Australia - temperate climate)
I buy most of my seeds at The Reject Shop $1.50 a packet. I grow rocket amongst other herbs.
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Oct 16, John Harris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Get them anyswhere they sell seeds - anywhere with a garden section or any nursery. They might be called arugula. Once you hace some, let someonto seed and you will have rocket for ever!
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Aug 16, Cate (Australia - temperate climate)
Re: bitter, I'd say it's definitely to do with heat and water as I 'm just finishing eating my batch in Tasmania where we've had a nice amount of rain this winter and it's been delicious. :) a nice easy thing to grow for my first vegie patch
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Jul 16, Kai (Australia - temperate climate)
can you plant potato sin Northern Territory
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Mar 16, Hilary Jeffery (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Planted rocket and they are wilting, not thriving at all. The bed also has broccoli and cauliflower, could that be affecting their growth.
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Nov 15, Trish (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
On the left is the perennial wall rocket or wild rocket with the finely divided fern like leaves (Diplotaxis tenuifolia). On the right, labeled "mature plant" is the annual salad rocket or arugula (Eruca sativa). Not the same plant. Both delicious in salads.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 31 - 40 of 125 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Rocket

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.