Kitchen Garden Forum

I was reading a copy of 'organic matters' may/june 2004. An irish organic magazine directed towards the commercial grower and general organic commerce.

there was a couple who grow veg for a local market.

this is what they said about 'rocket'

"First crops of rocket are sown directly into the ground indoors in early March. Each crop will give three to four cuttings before going to seed...it's important to cut all leaves at each cutting to prevent bolting... sowings are made at intervals up to july"

Has anyone practiced this? does it work? does it really pre-long running to seed?

I sowed some rocket in march in my polytunnel. i made sure that it was always well watered. it is starting to go to seed in the last week or so (pretty natural for this type of plant). I didn't do as above said, just to clarify.

In my experience rocket will keep producing new leaves if you treat it as a CCA (cutting young leaves regularly down to the quick in my case) - once you let it go it goes. I have a patch of wild rocket that has been on the go for two years and i cut it down regularly even if we are not going to eat it all.

whats the 'quick'? never heard that term before. Above the growing point? above where the seed leaves are or were?

Sorry dewwex - its not a gardening term - just means short - as in a number 4 on the hair clippers. Its either a geordie or scottish slang - hailing from both i am not sure which.
In gardening terms maybe a couple of inches off the ground so as not to masacre the new growth to be on the safe side - but i've cut it just above soil level to no ill effect.

Just to digress a bit, the 'quick' is the end bit of your finger that's just under the nail, so if you pull a nail off it's the bit that hurts! It's also the soft bit under a horse's foot, surrounded by hoof. Nowadays it's used to mean anything sensitive, including feelings, as in 'I was cut to the quick'. Just thought I'd mention it!
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Granny