How to Grow Rocket in the UK

Rocket is one of the easiest salad leaves to grow in the UK, producing fresh, peppery leaves in around four to six weeks.

It grows well in vegetable beds, allotments, raised beds and containers, making it suitable for gardens of almost any size.

Rocket performs particularly well during the cooler conditions of spring and autumn. With regular sowing and a little protection from pests, you can enjoy repeated harvests throughout much of the growing season.

Salad Rocket vs Wild Rocket

There are two main types of rocket grown in the UK: salad rocket and wild rocket.

Both produce peppery, edible leaves, but they differ in growth rate, flavour and lifespan.

When to Sow Rocket in the UK

Rocket prefers mild growing conditions, making spring and early autumn the most reliable times for sowing.

Seeds can generally be sown directly outdoors from April to early September. Earlier crops can be started indoors, while autumn sowings can be grown under protection.

In colder parts of the UK, outdoor sowing may need to begin later in spring. Any October sowings should be made under protection and will depend on suitable temperatures and available light.

Successional Sowing for Continuous Harvests

Rather than sowing one large crop, sow a short row or container every two to three weeks during suitable weather.

This keeps younger plants coming through as older ones finish producing leaves.

During particularly hot weather, rocket may bolt before providing a worthwhile harvest. Moving sowings into partial shade can help, although waiting until late summer may be more productive.

Use the UK Vegetable Planting Calendar to plan sowing and harvesting throughout the year.

Recommended Variety: Rocket ‘Apollo’

For UK gardeners wanting a reliable supply of fresh salad leaves, Rocket ‘Apollo’ is a particularly useful choice. D.T. Brown describes it as a productive, quick-growing variety with large, peppery leaves suitable for repeated harvesting in vegetable beds, raised beds and containers.

View Rocket ‘Apollo’ Seeds at D.T. Brown

Where to Grow Rocket

Sunlight and Position

Rocket grows well in full sun or partial shade.

A sunny position is ideal during spring and autumn, while some afternoon shade can help protect plants from excessive heat during summer.

Wild rocket is generally more tolerant of poorer, drier soils once established, although both types benefit from adequate moisture.

Soil Preparation

Rocket prefers fertile, well-drained soil that retains some moisture.

Before sowing:

• Remove weeds and large stones.
• Rake the surface to create a fine seedbed.
• Incorporate well-rotted garden compost if the soil is particularly sandy or dry.
• Water the soil if conditions are dry.

Rocket is a relatively undemanding crop and generally needs little additional feeding in reasonably fertile soil.

How to Sow Rocket Seeds

Rocket is usually easiest to grow by sowing directly into its final position.

1. Prepare the soil: Rake the growing area to create a fine, level surface.
2. Make a shallow drill: Create a row approximately 1cm deep, or follow the depth specified on your seed packet.
3. Sow the seeds: Scatter seeds thinly along the row, leaving enough space between rows for plants to develop and for harvesting.
4. Cover and water: Cover lightly with soil, firm gently and water using a fine rose.
5. Thin the seedlings: Once large enough to handle, thin to approximately 15cm apart for mature plants, unless your chosen variety specifies otherwise.

Seeds normally germinate within one to two weeks, often sooner when soil temperatures are suitable.

For baby leaves, rocket can be grown more closely together and harvested before plants reach their full size.

Follow the packet instructions where varieties differ. For example, D.T. Brown recommends sowing ‘Apollo’ approximately 1.5cm deep, with 30cm between rows and seedlings thinned to around 10cm apart.

Starting Rocket Indoors

Rocket can also be started indoors during February and March, or in late summer for protected autumn crops.

Sow seeds into small modules filled with moist, peat-free seed compost and place them somewhere bright.

Once established, gradually acclimatise seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting them out.

Starting in modules can help protect young plants from slugs and provide an earlier crop, although direct sowing is generally simpler during the main growing season.

If you’re growing several crops in the same bed, the free BYF Allotment Planner can help you organise your growing space.

Growing Rocket in Pots

Rocket is particularly well suited to containers, making it useful for patios, balconies and smaller gardens.

Choose a pot at least 30cm wide, with drainage holes, and fill it with peat-free multipurpose compost.

Sow the seeds thinly, cover lightly and water gently.

Place the container somewhere bright, with some afternoon shade during hot weather.

The main challenge with container-grown rocket is keeping the compost consistently moist. Pots dry out faster than garden soil, particularly during summer.

Larger containers retain moisture for longer and are generally easier to manage.

You can also grow several small batches in separate pots, replacing older plants as they finish cropping.

How to Care for Rocket

Rocket requires relatively little maintenance once established.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly during dry spells and while seedlings are establishing.

Allowing the soil to become excessively dry can slow growth, affect leaf quality and encourage premature flowering.

Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering during warm weather.

Avoid waterlogging, which can damage the roots.

Thinning and Feeding

Thin overcrowded seedlings to provide enough room for developing plants.

Young thinnings can be eaten as baby salad leaves rather than discarded.

Rocket generally needs no additional fertiliser when grown in reasonably fertile soil.

For repeated container sowings, replacing tired compost between crops can help maintain healthy growth.

Common Rocket Growing Problems

Although rocket is relatively easy to grow, several problems can affect leaf quality and harvesting.

Rocket Bolting Too Early

Bolting occurs when rocket starts producing flower stems rather than concentrating on leaf growth.

It is particularly common with annual salad rocket during hot, dry weather.

To reduce bolting:

• Sow mainly during spring and autumn.
• Provide partial shade during summer.
• Keep the soil consistently moist.
• Avoid overcrowding.
• Make regular replacement sowings.

Removing developing flower stems may delay flowering slightly, but it will not permanently prevent an annual plant from completing its lifecycle.

Once salad rocket has flowered heavily, replacing the plants is usually the simplest option.

Flea Beetle Damage

Flea beetles are among the most troublesome pests affecting rocket in UK gardens.

They feed on the leaves, leaving numerous small, rounded holes.

Established plants often tolerate minor damage, but young seedlings can be badly affected.

The most reliable prevention is fine insect mesh, ideally with openings of approximately 0.8mm, fitted immediately after sowing and secured around the edges.

Ordinary butterfly netting is not fine enough to exclude flea beetles.

Damage is often worse during warm, dry weather. In areas near oilseed rape fields, beetle activity may also increase following harvesting.

Slugs and Snails

Slugs and snails can damage young rocket seedlings, particularly during damp weather.

Inspect vulnerable plants regularly and remove slugs or snails where necessary.

Starting seeds in modules before planting out can help protect seedlings during their earliest stages.

Weak or Leggy Seedlings

Rocket seedlings may become tall, thin and weak when they receive insufficient light.

This is particularly common when plants are kept on poorly lit windowsills for too long.

Move seedlings into brighter conditions and avoid excessive indoor warmth.

Once established and properly hardened off, growing outdoors often produces stronger plants.

When and How to Harvest Rocket

Rocket is usually ready for its first harvest approximately four to six weeks after sowing, depending on the growing conditions.

Young leaves are generally more tender and milder than older foliage.

For regular harvesting:

1. Wait until plants have produced several healthy leaves.
2. Pick a few larger outer leaves from each plant.
3. Leave the central growing point undamaged.
4. Allow plants to recover and produce new growth.
5. Continue harvesting while leaves remain tender.

This is known as cut-and-come-again harvesting.

Salad rocket generally provides several harvests before flowering, while perennial wild rocket can remain productive over a much longer period.

Rocket flowers are also edible and have a peppery flavour, although flowering annual plants usually produce fewer tender leaves.

Growing Rocket Through Winter

Rocket can be grown during the colder months in the UK, although winter growth is considerably slower than during spring and summer.

For protected crops, sow during August or September and allow plants to establish before temperatures and daylight levels fall.

Suitable growing locations include:

• An unheated greenhouse
• A polytunnel
• A cold frame
• A sheltered bed covered with fleece or cloches

Harvesting may continue during mild periods, but growth can slow almost completely during December and January.

Established perennial wild rocket is generally hardier than annual salad rocket and may survive winter outdoors, particularly in well-drained soil.

Remove damaged foliage in late winter or early spring as fresh growth begins.

For growing salad leaves inside your home, see our guide to growing salad leaves indoors.

What to Grow After Rocket

Rocket is a useful short-season crop that can free up growing space for another vegetable.

Spring crops can be followed by beetroot or French beans, while beds cleared in late summer may be suitable for spinach, winter lettuce or spring onions.

Choose the next crop according to the season and local growing conditions.

As rocket belongs to the brassica family, consider crop rotation where clubroot or other brassica-related soil problems have occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions