Cultivated Rocket / Arugula Seeds – Heritage by Franchi Seeds

A classic Mediterranean salad leaf with fresh, tart, peppery flavour. Deeply lobed leaves add a spicy lift to salads, pizzas and meat dishes, and pair beautifully with rich ingredients like steak, blue cheese and cured meats. Naturally high in vitamin C and micronutrients. This heritage S1 variety is easy to grow in beds or containers. Approx. 6000 seeds per packet for generous, season‑long sowings.

🌱 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–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

Tips & Tricks for Growing
Rocket is one of the easiest salad crops in Ireland. Sow short rows every few weeks from spring to late summer for a constant supply. Use mesh or fleece early to reduce flea beetle damage, and keep soil moist to discourage bitterness.
Harvest young for milder flavour; allow some leaves to grow larger for a stronger, pepperier taste. Late sowings under fleece or in a tunnel extend the season well into autumn.

Garden-to-Table Recipe (for 4 people)
Tagliata-Style Steak with Gorgonzola & Rocket
Ingredients (for 4 people)
• 600–700 g ribeye or sirloin steak
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & black pepper
• 80–100 g Gorgonzola, crumbled
• 2 large handfuls fresh rocket
• Juice of ½ lemon

Method                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             1. Pat steak dry, rub with oil and season well.
2. Sear in a very hot pan for a few minutes per side.
3. Rest under foil for 5–10 minutes.
4. Arrange rocket on a platter with olive oil and lemon.
5. Slice steak thinly and place over the rocket; scatter Gorgonzola.
Serving suggestions & variations
Serve with crusty bread or roast potatoes. Swap Gorgonzola for Parmigiano Reggiano, or finish with balsamic glaze for extra sweetness