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Eruca vesicaria

Rocket

Common names: Arugula, Salad rocket

Rocket

Description

Rocket is a fast-growing salad with a nutty, peppery taste that is ready to harvest just four to six weeks after sowing. You can pick it several times, and with late sowings in September you harvest well into autumn.

Care instructions

Sow thinly in rows from March and repeat the sowing every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest. Keep the soil moist, because in drought and heat rocket bolts quickly and turns bitter, so in high summer sow it in partial shade instead. Cut the outer leaves continuously, then the heart keeps flushing anew.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–78.0

Soil type

sandy, loamy, humus-rich, well-drained

LightFull sun
HardinessFrost-sensitive
Crop rotationBrassicas
Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

legume family (Fabaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example PeaBush beanPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar pea and 31 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.

For example celery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCorianderCelery (Stalk Celery) and 18 more species in the catalogue

Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice

mint family (Lamiaceae)

You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.

For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue

Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice

nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)

Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.

For example Tropaeolum majusMashua

Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

Diseases & pests

2 relevant

From the knowledge base, automatically linked by affected species. How to spot and prevent them is covered in full in the lexicon.

PestmediumApr–Aug
Flea beetle

Phyllotreta

Flea beetles are tiny, black or metallic shiny beetles that jump away when touched.

More on Flea beetle
PesthighApr–Oct
Spanish slug

Arion vulgaris

The Spanish slug is the most feared omnivore in the vegetable bed. It feeds at night and in damp weather, eating irregular holes into leaves, and often clears young lettuces or seedlings completely.

More on Spanish slug

Notes from real gardens

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