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

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05 Dec 14, eugene (Australia - temperate climate)
why are my plants going to seed . especially rocket. i just got my basil in and it is trying to go seed. how do i prevent it?
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08 Dec 14, Gus (Australia - temperate climate)
Theyre probably bolting because of the recent high temperatures. Once plants start to go to seed, its not really possible to stop them; however you can delay them slightly. for the rocket, I wouldnt bother- it gets really tough and bitter. You can stall the basil by pinching out all of the flower heads as soon as you see them forming. It bushes out, and the new growth is still pretty tender. In the mean time sow more seeds! possibly in a shadier area if you have any.
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17 Nov 14, Jo Thorne (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, have a rocket plant and something (looks like a minute grey coloured mite) eating at it, some leaves eaten to the stem. Don't want to use harsh poisons, any suggestions. Thank you.
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28 Mar 16, Dee (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jo Sounds like aphids? I use a soap spray for aphids (make sure to leave it one week before eating them and wash thoroughly of course) but you can find lots of alternative and natural sprays on the Gardening Australia website - just look for 'home remedies'
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05 Nov 14, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Plant growing extremely well but sour tasting?
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18 Oct 14, ali (Australia - temperate climate)
do you only get one harvest from rocket plant? once it flowers and seeds? my rocket plants are now flowering and the green pods are forming. the leaves wont grow as big as before.... if i take the seed pods, when is the best time to replant??
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29 Oct 14, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Unsure where you live, I live in Sydney and plant it in winter and if you keep picking, it lasts for a long time. Once the seed pods turn light green or yellow, you pull the plant up and dry it . Once very dry, you can harvest it for replanting. I've noticed that rockets tends to bolt quickly in the hot weather and that goes for coriander too.
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21 Jul 14, Ushs Aswat (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I planted some rocket & they now up to about 4 ins high . I live in Barbados which is sun all year & can get very hot . Could you give me some tips on how to care for my young plants ?
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17 Jun 14, Simon (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
I've started growing rocket this year. I'm using a fairly sunny spot, outdoors. In terms of water, I give it a hose daily, and feed it once a week with the rest. It's gone rampant, but I've planted it fairly densely, so the rockets are partially shading each other. I've been nipping off the flowers as soon as I've seen them and the rockets are pretty big - mine too are a little bitter though it's pot luck, so I suspect the size and age of the plant play a part.
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08 Apr 14, Trevor mills (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Not a question i have put up a letter the other day but couldn,t remember the name of the plant . As you know there are a lot of premixed salads in the shops nowdays . The biggest flaw is the they call mizuna in these as rocket . I have been growing mizuna for yrs and also rocket totally different plants and different taste for example rocket has a musterdy rather warm after taste great to spice up the salads. All catered for the yuppie market i can say , but please give the right name to them otherwise some will argue as it has been for me .
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Showing 31 - 40 of 103 comments
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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.

- John

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