How to grow Rocket

At a glance

🌱 Grow your Rocket with GardenDex

• Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
• Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
• Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
• Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it

🗓️ When to plant

Sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or in mid to late summer for autumn harvest. In mild climates, succession sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous supply.

🌰 How to plant

1. Sow seeds directly into soil 1 cm (0.4 in) deep; rocket rarely needs transplanting
2. Water gently and keep soil moist until seedlings emerge (5–10 days)
3. Thin seedlings to desired spacing once they develop true leaves
4. Add mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep soil cool

💧 Care

• Water regularly during dry spells—rocket bolts (flowers prematurely) quickly in heat and drought
• Pinch off flower buds if you want tender leaves; allow some to flower for seeds or for pollinators
• Pick outer leaves regularly to encourage bushier growth and delay bolting
• Provide afternoon shade in hot climates (above 25°C / 77°F) to extend the harvest season

🧺 Harvest

Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants are 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall, or pick entire young plants for baby rocket. Continue picking regularly to promote new leaf growth; once flowering begins, leaves become tougher and more bitter.

🐛 Common problems

Flea beetles: Use fine netting over seedlings or spray with neem oil; these tiny jumping beetles make shot-hole damage but rarely kill established plants

Bolting (premature flowering): Sow in cooler seasons, provide shade in summer heat, keep soil moist, and harvest frequently to delay flowering

Slugs and snails: Remove by hand at dusk, set beer traps, or create barriers with copper tape around pots

🤝 Companion plants

💚 Good neighbours: Tomatoes, Radishes, Lettuce, Carrots

⚠️ Keep apart from: Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli), Fennel

More vegetables guides