edenhana

Rocket

A fast, peppery salad green that bolts and turns bitter in hot weather, so it's best grown in cooler months.

Something wrong with your rocket?

Sun
partial sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
15cm
Harvest
Ready in 20-35 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
Cut-and-come-again leaves for several weeks
Cost to grow
~$4 NZD
Grocery value
~$20 NZD
Companion plants
Lettuce, Beetroot
Common diseases
Downy mildew
Common pests
Flea beetle, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-May and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: March-April and September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: March and September-October. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Very fast to germinate, often within a week in cool conditions
    • Best sown in the cooler months to avoid early bolting
    • Keep soil consistently moist for even germination

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Flea beetle can riddle young leaves with small holes, especially in warm dry weather
    • Partial sun suits it well, too much heat encourages bolting
    • Aphids can target soft new growth

  3. Leaf growth

    • Downy mildew can appear on leaves in damp, humid conditions
    • Bolts and turns bitter quickly in hot weather, so keep it cool and well-watered
    • Flea beetle damage tends to worsen as the weather warms

  4. Harvest20-35 days from sowing

    • Ready fast, from about 20-35 days; cut-and-come-again for several weeks
    • Pick leaves young for the best peppery flavour before they toughen
    • Stop harvesting once plants bolt to flower, as leaves turn bitter after this

Similar plants