Rocket Seeds 20g

Rocket, also called garden rocket or gharghir (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa, syn. Eruca sativa), is a fast annual leafy green from the mustard family. Its slender, deeply lobed leaves carry a warm, peppery, nutty bite that lifts fresh salads, sandwiches and pizzas, and the young leaves are tender and mild. As an easy cool-season crop, it rewards you with greens just weeks after sowing.

Planting

Sow seed shallowly, about 0.6 cm deep, spacing seeds roughly 2.5 cm apart in the row, or broadcast for a cut-and-come-again patch. Seeds emerge in just 5-7 days and sprout in cool soils of about 4-13 C. In Egypt, rocket is a winter crop: sow from autumn through early spring (roughly September/October to February) when temperatures sit in the ideal 12-20 C range. Avoid the hot months, especially June-July, when heat and long days force bolting. Thin seedlings to about 7.6-15 cm apart for full plants, and use the thinnings in salads.

Fertilizing

Enrich the soil with compost or organic matter before sowing. As a fast leafy crop it appreciates a nitrogen-rich feed such as compost, fish emulsion or blood meal, or a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks while growing. Don't over-feed with nitrogen, as it gives lush leaves of weaker flavour.

Care

Grow in full sun (6 or more hours), though it tolerates partial shade; light afternoon shade slows bolting in heat. It likes rich, moist, well-drained soil at a near-neutral pH of about 6.0-8.0. Water consistently, around 2.5 cm per week, keeping soil evenly moist as its roots are shallow. Watch for flea beetles and aphids, plus downy and powdery mildew. Cut young leaves from about 3-4 weeks; sow every 2-3 weeks for a steady supply.