ROCKET - WILD

  Organic Rocket Wild

        200 Seeds Pack    

Wild arugula, botanically classified as Diplotaxis tenuifolia, is a native herb of the Mediterranean, Western Asia, and Northern Africa, cultivated since ancient times. Over the centuries, it was introduced to other European regions, such as England and Finland. In Italy, wild arugula grows abundantly in the countryside, and many Italians cherish memories of gathering its pungent leaves from fields during summer. Belonging to the Brassicaceae family, wild arugula is one of three primary arugula species cultivated for consumption. It typically grows in open fields, roadsides, and as a weed in gardens across its native Mediterranean habitat.

Also known as Wild Rocket, Roquette, Rauke, or Sylvetta, the peppery green is both a vegetable and herb used in various culinary applications. Outside its native range, it is considered a specialty crop, commonly found at farmers’ markets or through select growers in Europe and parts of Western Asia. In English, arugula is often referred to as Rocket, Rucola, Salad Rocket, or Italian Cress.

Wild arugula features small, jagged, dark green leaves that average 7-20 centimetres in length. These elongated, deeply lobed leaves grow in bunches around slender, upright stalks topped with bright yellow flowers. The leaves have serrated edges and prominent veins that connect to a pale green central stem. With a crisp texture, wild arugula delivers an intense, pungent flavour, balancing sweet and bitter notes of pepper, nuts, horseradish, and pine, making it a flavourful addition to salads, garnishes, and cooked dishes.

    PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your pots, plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them. 

Rocket (arugula) can be grown in plant containers, making it a great option for balcony gardens or indoor spaces near a sunny window. If you don’t have a suitable garden spot, a container at least 8 inches wide with drainage holes works well. Since rocket has sensitive roots, repotting is best avoided, so it’s important to select an appropriate growing container from the start.

Rocket thrives in rich, humus-rich soil with a pH of 6 to 6.8 but is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Keeping the soil evenly moist can help slow bolting, which is common during warmer months.

Sow rocket seeds in spring for summer greens or in autumn for winter greens. Sow the seeds 6mm (¼ inch) deep in rows spaced 45–60cm (18–24 inches) apart, placing seeds about 3cm (1¼ inches) apart within the rows. Cover the seeds lightly with soil. As rocket naturally flowers in summer, regular harvesting and keeping the soil moist can help delay flowering. For autumn sowing, covering crops with horticultural fleece can extend the growing season, allowing harvesting up until the first frosts.

Rocket often self-seeds and requires insects for pollination, as it is self-sterile. However, it will not cross-pollinate with other members of the mustard family.

Companion planting rocket with beans is highly beneficial, as beans fix nitrogen in the air and enrich the soil with it, boosting the growth of the rocket. However, avoid planting rocket alongside onions or other alliums, as they are not compatible companion plants.