Growing Rocket, also Arugula/Rucola

Eruca vesicaria : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	P	P						P	P	P

(Best months for growing Rocket in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 6 - 8 inches apart
Harvest in 21-35 days.
Compatible with (can grow beside): Lettuce

Plant every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous supply. Leafy green plant with lobed, dark green leaves. It has a slightly spicy, nutty flavour. The spiciness intensifies as the plant gets older.

Frost tender.

Keep well watered in well drained ground. Will go to flower rapidly in hot dry weather.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rocket

Use in salads and stir-fry.

Your comments and tips

08 Oct 24, Petrus (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): Should one nip flowers off to promote leave growth.
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11 Mar 24, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I am looking for Winter Rocket..... is this just another name for seeds I buy as rocket.. or what do I look for?
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22 Mar 24, Tanya (Australia - temperate climate): Arugula another name. You do not need to plant it every year - for example, in my garden (Perth) they grow and self-seed all year round! Just let them do their own things. Technically, my garden is in Automatic mode, other plants do exactly the same.
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19 Mar 24, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Look up an internet site to see the different varieties.
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25 Feb 23, Bets (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Can I cook Rocket with spinach?
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28 Feb 23, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): You could try a cooking website for ideas.
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26 Dec 22, Andrew Messem (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): The seeds are sprouting well but at 2.5 inches (6 cm) high they are falling over and dying. What is causing this?
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05 Jan 23, (Australia - tropical climate): It is not recommended to grow in south african summer rainfall climate.
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12 Jan 22, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Good day to all, Where can we purchase arugula veg in Western Cape Souh Africa? Thank you
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23 Jul 22, Lilla (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): You can buy them from Seeds for Africa.
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Replying to:

I think drying the seed is best. I pick the stems with the pods attached and let them dry out for a week or two - the pods crack open then and the seed falls out easily. I then dry the seed for a week or two and replant as and when required. If you are keeping seed it will certainly need to be dry or it will just rot. As for planting green seed I've never tried it so??? The seeds need to be fully developed so I would assume this is when they are pretty much dry.

- Jim

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GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Rocket, also Arugula/Rucola

Eruca vesicaria : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rocket

Your comments and tips

GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Rocket, also Arugula/Rucola

Eruca vesicaria : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rocket

Your comments and tips

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