Eruca sativa
HEIGHT x WIDTH: 30cm x 20cm.
DISTANCE APART: 20cm
WHEN TO HARVEST: Salad rocket grows like a rocket and needs to be harvested often as this will encourage new leaves to shoot up. To harvest, break off the outside leaves leaving the younger ones to grow from the centre.
HOW MUCH WATER: Water every day unless it rains.
WHERE TO PLANT: Full sun
CAN I GROW THEM IN A POT? Yes. Fill a pot that is 30cm deep with premium potting mix, plant the seedlings and water them well. Make sure that the container gets plenty of sunlight.
CAN I GROW THEM IN A GARDEN BED? Yes. The garden bed must get at least 6 hours of sun every day. Mix lots of compost or animal manure into the soil, plant the seedlings and water lightly. Spread some mulch such as pea straw or lucerne hay over the soil.
BEST BUDDY PLANTS: The best buddies of rocket are beans, carrots, onion and radish.
OTHER ‘SMARTY PLANT’ TIPS:
- When you get your seedlings home, let them sit in a shallow tray of water which has had a tablespoon of seaweed solution added for an hour or two. This will get them ready for transplanting.
- After planting, water the seedlings with a very soft hose or a watering can several times a day until they settle in.
- Water every day and apply a liquid fertiliser every fortnight.
- By growing several rocket plants, leaves can be taken from each one so that they don’t become too exhausted.
There’s more information at the Smarty Plants website.