Kitchen Garden Forum

Does anybody succeed in growing Rocket outdoors during the winter? I'm still picking some very healthy leaves but wonder how hardy it is and whether, if I sowed some in a sheltered spotnow whether it would germinate and grow.

Hi Primrose

I have masses of wild rocket at the allotment but it tastes too hot to eat by this time of year and pretty bitter with it. Most of it dies back after the first frost so I just cut it all down and wait for the spring.

Primrose

It depends on whether you mean salad rocket or wild rocket.

Salad rocket is fairly hardy and can survive outside in winter, though it tends to get a bit ragged, tough and inedible. It is almost certainly too late to sow outside now, though I did sow some in the polytunnel on 31 October - later than usual. It germinated fine, albeit rather slowly and should produce.

Wild rocket is perennial and, as Chantal says, mostly dies back with frost, but will reappear in the spring.

Hope this helps.

Alan

I thought ALL rocket was winter rocket! The only rocket I've ever seen hates the hot dry weather and flourishes in the cold.
mike

I've still got some salad rocket growing outdoors. The coriander's bitten the dust, as expected, but the rocket is fine. And we've had some vicious frosts over the last few weeks.
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Granny