VEGETABLE Rocket ‘Cultivated’ Seeds
Botanical name: Eruca sativa
Rocket is a fast and easy to grow vegetable. Grow it as a ‘cut and come again’ baby leaf to enjoy a continual supply of these greens.
Rocket adds a zest of flavour to salads. Combine it with Red Oakleaf lettuce, Beet or Chard Baby Leaf, spinach and green lettuce for a well-balanced Mesclun mix.
- Also known as arugula or roquette.
- Suitable for growing in containers or hydroponically.
- Ideal crop for commercial growers. Fast and easy to grow. Can be harvested as a microgreen (7-10 days), baby leaf (21 days) and full maturity.
- Rocket is part of the mustard family and has a tangy, spicy flavour.
- A nutritious leafy green that is popular in Italian cuisine.
- Ideal addition for salads, sandwiches, cooked dishes, and topping for pizza.
- Wild rocket (Sylvetta) seeds also available.
Growing Instructions (Baby Leaf/Full Maturity)
- Best harvested when the leaves are young and tender.
- Can be grown all year round, but best suited to cooler climates. Cooler temperatures produce better tasting rocket leaves.
- Rocket can bolt relatively quickly in hot temperatures.
- Easy crop for seed saving.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Annual leafy vegetable, grows up to 60 cm tall.
Sowing Information:
- Sow When:
- Temperate Climates: Early spring to late summer.
- Tropical Climates: Best sown in cooler months.
- Germination: 7 – 10 days
- Depth: Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep.
- Position: Full sun to partial shade.
- Sow Where: Directly into well-drained garden soil or containers.
- Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil with pH 6.0 – 7.0.
- Spacing: Thin seedlings to 15 – 20 cm apart.
Details:
- Water seedlings regularly, ensuring soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
- Keep the area around the plants weed-free to ensure optimal growth.
Harvest:
Harvest baby leaves within 3 weeks. For full maturity, harvest leaves as needed.
Growing Instructions (Microgreens):
- Grow in soil or coir peat; hydroponic methods are not recommended for arugula.
- Soak seeds in cold water for 4 – 8 hours.
- Spread seeds evenly on moist soil in a shallow tray.
- Cover with a thin layer of soil and keep in a dark, ventilated area for 2 – 4 days.
- Remove cover and place tray in indirect sunlight; water lightly twice daily.
- Harvest microgreens when they reach 5 – 7 cm in height, typically within 8 – 14 days.
