Rocket (arugula or rucola) is one of the easiest and fastest salad leaves to grow in the UK. With its distinctive peppery flavour, rocket is perfect for salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes. Quick-growing and productive, rocket can be sown almost year-round for continuous harvests. I keep a small tray going on the kitchen windowsill right through winter — it's one of the few salad leaves that doesn't sulk indoors. This comprehensive guide will show you how to grow rocket successfully.
Not sure when to sow? See our When to Plant Rocket UK →
Founder & Head Grower, SoilCommander · RHS Level 2 · 12+ years growing in Yorkshire
I've been growing vegetables on my Yorkshire allotment and raised beds since 2012. Everything I write is based on what I've actually grown, failed at, and eventually got right in a real UK climate.
Quick Growing Facts
- Sowing Time: March to September (year-round under cover)
- Harvest Time: 3-6 weeks after sowing
- Growing Time: 3-6 weeks
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Position: Full sun to partial shade
Types of Rocket
Salad Rocket (Annual): Milder flavour, larger leaves, faster-growing, less hardy
Wild Rocket (Perennial): Stronger peppery flavour, smaller serrated leaves, slower-growing, very hardy, longer-lasting. The RHS suggests wild rocket as the more bolt-resistant choice for summer, when salad rocket runs to seed in the heat
When to Sow Rocket
Rocket can be sown almost continuously:
- Outdoor sowing: March-September for spring, summer, and autumn harvest
- Under cover: October-February in greenhouses, polytunnels, or cold frames for winter harvest
- Succession sowing: Sow small batches every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply
- Best seasons: Spring and autumn sowings produce the best flavour (less bitter than summer crops)
- Summer shade: Provide partial shade for summer sowings to reduce bolting
Soil Preparation
Rocket is very adaptable and undemanding:
- Soil type: Any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil
- Add organic matter: Dig in compost for moisture retention
- pH level: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0)
- Moisture-retentive: Prefers moist soil to prevent bolting and bitterness
- Rake fine: Create a fine, level seedbed
How to Sow Rocket
Direct Outdoor Sowing (recommended):
- Create drills: Make shallow drills 1cm (½ inch) deep, 15cm (6 inches) apart
- Sow thinly: Sprinkle seeds thinly along the drill
- Cover lightly: Cover with fine soil and firm gently
- Water well: Water gently but thoroughly
- Quick germination: Seeds germinate in 5-7 days
Broadcasting:
- Scatter seeds thinly over prepared soil
- Rake in lightly
- Water well
- Good for cut-and-come-again baby leaf harvests
Container Growing:
- Excellent for pots, window boxes, and growing bags
- Sow thinly in good quality compost
- Keep well-watered
💡 Top Tip
Rocket grows so quickly that it's perfect for intercropping between slower-growing vegetables. Sow between rows of brassicas, beans, or other crops - the rocket will be harvested long before the main crops need the space.
Thinning Seedlings
Thinning depends on how you plan to harvest:
- For baby leaves: No thinning needed - harvest entire crop when 5-7.5cm (2-3 inches) tall
- For larger leaves: Thin to 10-15cm (4-6 inches) apart for individual plants
- Use thinnings: Add thinnings to salads
Ongoing Care
Rocket is very low-maintenance:
- Watering: Water regularly to keep soil moist and prevent bolting; dry conditions make leaves bitter
- Feeding: Generally no feeding needed
- Shade in summer: Provide partial shade during hot weather to reduce bolting and bitterness
- Weeding: Keep weed-free, though fast growth means weeds are rarely a problem
- Remove flower stalks: Pinch out flower stalks to prolong leaf production (or let wild rocket flower for bees)
Common Problems
Flea beetle: Small holes in leaves. Cover with fleece or fine mesh immediately after sowing; water well to promote fast growth.
Bolting: Running to seed quickly. Caused by hot, dry conditions. Water regularly, provide shade in summer, and sow bolt-resistant varieties.
Bitter leaves: Caused by drought or heat stress. Water regularly and harvest young.
Slugs and snails: Can damage young seedlings. Protect with barriers if necessary.
Harvesting Rocket
Rocket can be harvested in multiple ways:
Baby Leaf Harvest:
- Harvest when leaves are 5-7.5cm (2-3 inches) tall (3-4 weeks after sowing)
- Cut entire crop 2.5cm (1 inch) above ground level
- Plants will regrow for 2-3 more cuts
Cut-and-Come-Again:
- Harvest outer leaves when 7.5-10cm (3-4 inches) long
- Leave inner leaves to continue growing
- Pick regularly to encourage more production
- Plants can produce for several months
Whole Plant:
- Pull up entire plant when mature (6-8 weeks)
- Best for salad rocket
General Tips:
- Harvest in the morning when leaves are crispest
- Pick young leaves for mildest flavour
- Older leaves are more peppery
- Wild rocket flowers are edible and attractive
Storage
Rocket is best eaten fresh but can be stored briefly:
- Fresh is best: Use within hours of picking for best flavour
- Refrigerator: Store unwashed in plastic bags for up to 3 days
- In water: Stand in a jar of water like cut flowers to keep fresh
- Wilts quickly: Doesn't store well - sow little and often instead
Recommended Varieties
Salad Rocket (Annual)
Rocket (standard)
The classic fast-growing variety with a mild peppery flavour — the reliable default for baby leaf harvests.
Skyrocket
Bred to be slow to bolt — the better choice if you want to keep cropping right through summer.
Apollo
Uniform and productive with good bolt resistance, making it dependable for successional sowing.
Wild Rocket (Perennial)
Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis)
Stronger, more peppery flavour with serrated leaves — very hardy and the best choice for winter cropping.
Grazia
An improved wild rocket with good flavour and productivity — a strong all-rounder for regular harvests.
Dragon's Tongue
Purple-tinged leaves with a spicy flavour — worth growing for looks as well as taste in salads.
Rocket was once considered a weed in much of Europe before becoming a salad-bag staple — wild rocket in particular still self-seeds readily, which is exactly why it's such a reliable, low-effort crop for UK gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my rocket taste so bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from heat or drought stress, or leaves left to grow too large before picking. Water consistently, provide shade in summer, and harvest leaves young for the mildest flavour.
Can I grow rocket indoors all year?
Yes — rocket grows well on a bright windowsill through autumn and winter when outdoor sowings would struggle. Keep the compost moist and expect slightly slower growth in low light.
Does rocket need a lot of space?
No. It's one of the most space-efficient crops you can grow, doing well in shallow containers, window boxes, and gaps between slower-growing vegetables.
Will rocket come back every year?
Salad rocket is an annual and won't survive winter outdoors. Wild rocket is a hardy perennial and, left to flower, will usually self-seed and return on its own the following year.
Essential Tools for Growing Rocket
Get the right tools for successful rocket growing:
Plan Your Vegetable Garden
Get our comprehensive UK Vegetable Planting Calendar to plan your entire growing season, including when to sow and harvest rocket alongside all your other crops.
View Planting Calendar →Tools That Help With This Crop
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