How to Grow Arugula or Rocket From Seed - Leafy Green and Microgreen

How to grow Arugula - Salad Rocket or Roquette.

Known as Roquette in France, Arugula in many countries and simply Salad Rocket in others this is an easy to grow plant in the garden or container. Grown both as Microgreen and Leafy Green it can be harvested continually for many weeks.

Rocket is best planted sequentially, sow a patch every 6 weeks for a constant supply.

You can grow it from seeds, or small seedlings or plug plants.

The seeds are very small and should be spread on the surface of a finely tilled soil. Cover them with a fine layer of of sifted soil or vermiculate.

The seeds will germinate in 7 days or so and can then be thinned as desired.

Mulch around the plants to maintain moisture in the soil at all times.

If the plants BOLT and start to flower the leaves become bitter. You can cut the plants back to encourage a new growth.

Although rocket does like full sun, we suggest protection from the very hot sun in summer to prevent it biting (going to seed)

Water regularly with a liquid seaweed fertiliser and add a little lime to the soil, as rocket does like a sweet soil.

*Varieties*

Apollo Arugula - Eruca sativa

Trust the Dutch to come up with an improved strain, this Apollo Arugula, or Rocket.

It is not a bitter as normal varieties, the leaves are larger and more round and it can be harvested up to 5 times before you need to replant.

From sowing seed to producing a full crop will take around 6 - 7 weeks. It is grown in the same way as other types.

Sylvetta Arugula - Eruca sativa

Another variety to consider is Sylvetta also known as wild rocket, it is slower growing however it has a stronger taste.

This is slower growing, about half the height, and has yellow flowers. The leaves are also more deeply lobed with a more pungent flavour. How can you tell the difference ? This variety has yellow flowers, normal Arugula has white flowers. This one also will tend to self seed more readily.