Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia)
1 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early April to mid August
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 5.5–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Downy mildew
In the UK, wild rockets go in the ground early April to mid August.
Wild rockets (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) — perennial.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early April in Southern England to early April in Scotland.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early April to mid August |
| Midlands | early April to mid August |
| Northern England | early April to mid August |
| Scotland | early April to mid August |
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS recommends successional sowing across the growing season for continuous leaf supply, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.
Midlands - detail & sources
RHS recommends successional sowing across the growing season for continuous leaf supply, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.
Northern England - detail & sources
RHS recommends successional sowing across the growing season for continuous leaf supply, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.
Scotland - detail & sources
RHS recommends successional sowing across the growing season for continuous leaf supply, with no UK-region-specific dates given; this window is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.
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
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). |
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
When should I sow wild rockets in the UK?
In Southern England, from early April. In Scotland, wait until early April. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow wild rockets?
Sow early April to mid August.
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
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
Get the UK Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions
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.