Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia)
1 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 5.5–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Downy mildew
Wild rockets (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) — perennial.
Unlike an annual crop, the work here is front-loaded into establishment: get the planting and the site right and the same plants crop for several seasons.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Soil & Growing Conditions
Water: moist but well-drained; keep well watered (RHS)
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing | 0 | Sow seed densely at 5mm depth in full sun or part shade (RHS). |
| Thinning | 1 | Thin seedlings to 10cm (4in) apart as they emerge; keep well watered (RHS). |
| Leaf growth | 3 | Grows to around 20cm; sow successionally for a continuous leaf supply (RHS). |
| Cut-and-come-again harvest | 8 | Pick leaves over regularly, cut-and-come-again; unlike salad rocket it does not readily bolt (RHS). |
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Soil texture | chalk, clay, loam or sand (RHS) |
| Drainage | well-drained |
| Lifecycle | perennial |
| Edible parts | leaves, flowers |
At a Glance
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Pick leaves over regularly, cut-and-come-again, to keep plants from bolting and provide a continuous supply; unlike salad rocket, wild rocket is a perennial and does not bolt in the same way in warm weather. Yellow flowers are also edible and can garnish salads (RHS).
Diseases
Pests
Wild Rocket, a Different Genus Entirely
References
-
A perennial, Mediterranean leafy wild rocket to around 20cm in height, with a more peppery flavour than other varieties, smaller leaves and crunchy stalks. Yellow flowers are edible and can garnish salads. Native to Europe/Mediterranean, also native to GB/Ireland. Hardiness H3 (hardy in coastal and relatively mild UK parts, -5 to 1C). Full sun preferred, tolerates part shade. Soil: chalk, clay, loam or sand; moist but well-drained; acid, alkaline or neutral pH. Height/spread 0.1-0.5m. Time to maturity 1 year. Propagate by seed sown densely at 5mm depth; successive sowings give a continuous leaf supply; suitable for cut-and-come-again cropping. Pests: flea beetles, slugs, snails. Diseases: generally disease-free, though some cultivars such as 'Sele' offer mildew resistance -- implying mildew susceptibility exists in some cultivars.
1 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil pH do wild rockets need?
A pH of about 5.5–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect wild rockets?
Our data links 1 disease and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Short-season growing is arithmetic before it is technique: days to maturity against frost-free days decides what will finish at all. The Canada Garden Planner does that subtraction for your region before you sow.
Get the Canada Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for Canadian growing conditions
Vegetable Growing Guides Canada
Last verified 2026-08-29
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.