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

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.
24 Oct 16, Robert serve ti (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy rocket seeds I live in Sydney
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.
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!
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
04 Jul 16, Kai (Australia - temperate climate)
can you plant potato sin Northern Territory
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.
07 Nov 15, Nahrein (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy rocula/rocket seeds to grow the mature plant I've called so many places they only have the wild version it's not what I'm after. Thanks so much for your helpful website
02 Aug 16, Nurul (Australia - temperate climate)
There's a good ebay seller called Darren from seedsforyou. He is based in Orrorroo SA and he usually posts the seedlings at a very low price, but good heirloom quality.
24 Aug 15, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Is this compatible with any plant?
Showing 21 - 30 of 103 comments

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

- Kathryn

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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.
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