Wild Rocket is becoming increasingly popular for its spicy, peppery flavour. British bred variety, Wild Rocket 'Dragons Tongue' is resilient and slow to bolt, coping well with our varying soils and weather conditions. The serrated leaves are dark green with attractive purple veining. This short lived perennial salad crop is ideal for adding life to salads, sandwiches and garnishes, or wilting as an alternative to spinach. With successional sowings in an unheated greenhouse, this tasty wild rocket will provide fresh, peppery salad leaves all year round. Height and spread: 15cm (6") if harvested regularly or up to 60cm (24") if left uncropped.

Sowing

Direct sow rocket seeds from April to September outdoors or October to March under glass, into well prepared, moist, well drained soil in sun or semi shade. Sow seeds thinly at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in drills 45cm (18") apart in soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. When large enough to handle, thin rocket seedlings to 23cm (9") apart, or leave un-thinned and harvest as 'baby salad' leaves or as a 'cut and come again' crop. Sowings made in late summer will continue cropping into winter if protected by cloches, or if sown in frames, under glass, or in pots on the windowsill.

More Info

Rocket must be kept well watered during hot, dry weather to reduce bolting and prevent the leaves becoming hot and inedible. Harvest young rocket leaves as required picking only a few leaves from each plant. As the flower buds appear pinch them out to prolong cropping. Rocket flower buds and shoots can be eaten but have a much hotter flavour.