Grow rocket in pots

Rocket has shallow roots, so a shallow pot is fine, but it needs to be at least 30cm wide to accommodate six or so plants at a time, which should give you plenty of leaves to pick a few times a week. If you need more, choose a larger container, or plant up more than one pot. As your plants start to flower, establish new plantings to take over and provide a successional harvest.

Fill your container with a good quality potting mix with fertiliser added. For a quick start, pick up established seedlings from a garden centre, but if you’re serious about successional cropping, buy seed so you have it on hand. Rocket seed germinates readily. Moisten the potting mix and scatter seed over the surface, then cover with an additional 3mm layer of potting mix. Gently water in and keep the surface moist until the seeds germinate, which takes about five days. You can thin excess seedlings if you like, but there’s no need to. The object is to produce lots of leaves in the shortest time frame, so the more plants the merrier.

Place your pot in a position that gets plenty of sun, but shade the plants from the midday sun when the weather is hot. Water often to maintain even moisture, and give your rocket a liquid feed once a week to keep it growing at supersonic speed.

Start harvesting as soon as the plants look big enough to lose a few leaves. Pick the outer leaves first, gently snapping them near the base. Leave at least six leaves so the plant can keep growing. Young plants produce sweet and tender leaves, then the harvest heats up as the plants mature.

After some more leafy greens to plant during autumn? Read Phil Dudman’s story 5 reliable leafy vegies.

Header image credit: iStock

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