Wild rocket

[Jules]

My wild rocket is wonderful in the way that year after year it comes up and is delicious - that is until this year!! It has come up again and growing profusely but it is very tough/coarse. Instead of lovely young tender shoots its like chewing raw cabbage leaves! anyone any ideas??? I can hardly stop it coming up each year and I have moved it several times but this year.......not so good!

[alan refail]

Jules

I suspect it is getting old - as a perennial it will get bigger andtougher. I try to avoid this by sowing afresh every year. Whatever it says on the packet it is very easy to germinate.

[Johnboy]

Hi Jules,
Alan's answer is the best advice but if you were to cut the plants back very very severely I am sure that the regeneration may well be tender.
I suggest this only whilst you are waiting for your fresh batch to germinate and grow to edible size.
JB.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Hello, I was just going to suggest the same as Johnboy - prune it right off and all the new shoots will be nice and tender again. There are usually self sown seedlings nearby too if you have a look round an old plant.

[Johnboy]

Hi Plumpudding,
I do this to Perpetual Spinach which has a tendency, after a few pickings, to become tougher than I would like. The plants even expand when you cut them right back and last year they ended up 12" to 15" wide plants of superb tender leaves which take but a few days to grow. Harvesting is done with a large pair of scissors. If you then steam them they are done just how I like them in about a minute. They are also good eaten raw in a mixed salad. If with something like Spaghetti Bolognese
just before serving I mix the leaves in raw and by the time you get to eating it they have cooked themselves perfectly.
JB.

[Jules]

Thanks everyone - I think I'll do as you say and plant new but I will also cut it RIGHT back and see what happens although I did this to move it this year and its the new growth that is tough! I just wondered if anyone had tried cooking wild rocket?? Maybe adding it to a stir fry at the end??
Thanks again! Jules

[Primrose]

Is wild rocket susceptible to high temperatures? I sowed some a while back and even though it was kept moist and is in a position which is only in the sun for the half the day, it has bolted and turned to wiry stalks before I had any decent leaves at all. The stuff I sowed in very late autumn and over-wintered under cloches produced large tender leaves.

[Greenman]

I usually sow wild rocket in late April and crop it quickly as it runs to seed quickly when it is hot - and again in early September to overwinter - this is always better and doesnt go to seed till the following May.