Cultivated rocket with fresh, tart, peppery flavour. The kind of salad leaf that makes a plain green salad actually interesting. Deeply lobed leaves that add a spicy lift to pizzas, steaks, and anything with blue cheese or cured meats. Naturally high in vitamin C.
Sow a short row every two to three weeks from March to September and you will never run out. Ready to cut in about four weeks. Grows back after cutting for a second and third harvest. Approximately 6,000 seeds per packet, so one packet lasts the whole year.
🌱 Sowing information
Sow March-September in shallow drills outdoors, raised beds or containers using fertile, free‑draining soil. Cover lightly (0.5-1 cm), water gently and keep moist. For continuous harvests, sow small batches every 2-3 weeks. Early and late sowings can be made under cover for extended cropping.
☀️ Light exposure
Grows well in full sun to light partial shade. In warmer or sheltered spots, a little afternoon shade helps prevent bolting and keeps leaves tender.
💧 Water needs
Keep soil consistently moist to avoid bitterness and premature flowering. Regular watering, especially in containers, supports fast leafy growth and good flavour.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates quickly at 10-20 °C, usually in 4-10 days. Early spring sowings benefit from fleece or a cloche; late‑summer sowings germinate readily in warm soil.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
For cut‑and‑come‑again harvests, sow thickly and thin to 10 cm. For larger rosettes, space 15-20 cm apart in rows 20-30 cm apart. Plants reach 15-25 cm tall.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest baby leaves at 5-7 cm, cutting outer leaves and allowing the centre to regrow. Regular picking delays flowering. Edible flowers can be used as a peppery garnish.
Bullet Technical Data
• 🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5-1 cm
• 📅 Planting months (Ireland): March to end September
• ☀️ Light: Full sun to light partial shade
• 🌡️ Germination: 4-10 days at 10-20 °C
• 📏 Plant height: 15-25 cm
• 🪴 Spacing: 10 cm for cut‑and‑come‑again; 15-20 cm for larger plants
• ⏳ Days to maturity: 25-40 days for baby leaves
• 🧪 Seeds per packet: approx. 6000
