Rocket
Eruca vesicaria
Rocket is one of the fastest and most productive salad leaves, ready to harvest in as little as 3-4 weeks from sowing. It has a distinctive peppery, slightly bitter flavour that intensifies in hot weather and older leaves. Succession sowing every few weeks prevents the crop becoming too hot and reduces bolting, which happens rapidly in summer heat.
Key facts
- Family
- Brassicaceae (Brassicas)
- Category
- Leafy
- Sowing window
- Mar–SepNow
- Sowing depth
- 5 mm
- Watering
- low
- Frost sensitivity
- low
- Days to maturity
- 21-40 days
- Harvest window
- Apr - Nov
Sowing notes
- -Succession sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
- -Avoid peak summer heat - bolts quickly in high temperatures
- -Late summer/autumn sowings are often the most productive
Varieties
Cultivated rocket (Eruca vesicaria) is the common fast-growing type sold in supermarkets, with a mild-to-medium peppery flavour and broader, less deeply cut leaves than wild rocket. It grows and matures quickly, ready in 3-4 weeks, making it ideal for succession sowing. Best harvested young for tenderness.
Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is a perennial species with a stronger, more pungent flavour than cultivated rocket and narrower, more deeply lobed leaves. It is slower-growing but more heat and drought tolerant, and will self-seed freely if flowers are allowed to form. Excellent for growing in containers or gaps in borders.
Issues & threats
Wilting
EnvironmentalPlants are drooping or losing vigour. Most commonly caused by water stress but can also indicate root damage, vascular disease, or heat scorch. Identifying the cause quickly is important as some causes are serious.
Poor germination
EnvironmentalSeeds are emerging unevenly or not at all. Usually caused by soil temperature being too low, seeds sown too deep, poor seed-to-soil contact, or old seed stock.
Damping off
Fungal diseasePythium spp. / Phytophthora spp.
Young seedlings collapse at or just below soil level, caused by fungal pathogens that thrive in overwatered, poorly ventilated growing conditions. Can spread rapidly through a seed tray.
Yellowing leaves
EnvironmentalLeaves are turning yellow, which can indicate a range of problems including nutrient deficiency, overwatering, disease, or natural senescence. Identifying whether the pattern is upper or lower leaves, whole leaves or between veins, is key to diagnosis.
Stunted growth
EnvironmentalPlants are significantly smaller or slower to develop than expected. May be caused by poor soil, nutrient deficiency, root restriction, compaction, pest damage to roots, or disease.
Chewing damage
PestGeneral chewing damage from an unidentified pest, leaving holes or missing leaf sections. May be caused by caterpillars, beetles, or other insects. Inspect at dusk to identify the culprit.
Sap-sucking pests
PestGeneral sap-feeding pest activity causing weakened or distorted growth. May be caused by aphids, whitefly, scale insects, or other sucking insects. Inspect leaf undersides and growing tips to identify the pest.