Growing Rocket in Australia: The Complete Guide
Rocket is an easy leafy green to grow, needing full–part sun with consistent watering.
We get asked about rocket often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
Fast and peppery
One of the quickest leafy crops from sowing to plate — succession sow every couple of weeks, and pick young for the mildest, least peppery flavour.
How to Plant Rocket
Method — direct sow thinly, little and often. Soil — loose, moisture-retentive. Timing — sow year-round in mild zones; avoid peak summer heat.
Day-to-Day Care
Keep these points in mind:
- Keep soil consistently moist for milder-tasting leaves.
- Succession sow every 2 weeks.
- Harvest young for the best flavour — older leaves turn hot and bitter.
- Provide light afternoon shade in hot weather.
Common Problems
Worth paying attention to:
- Flea beetle — small holes in leaves; net young plants.
- Bolting — heat stress; grow in cooler months.
- Slugs and snails — target seedlings; use barriers.
- Bitter flavour — left too long before picking or grown in heat.
Picking and Keeping Your Harvest
Signs — leaves reach usable size, picked young for the best flavour. Method — cut or pinch outer leaves, or the whole plant at the base. Curing — none needed. Storage — fridge crisper, a few days.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main rocket guide page.