Your comments and tips

21 Jan 11, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

here in cool climate Australia I simply let the plant go to seed and am never without rocket.... Not sure if this is possible in your tropical part of Australia? Maybe give it a go.....

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28 Dec 10, Jim (Australia - temperate climate)

I think drying the seed is best. I pick the stems with the pods attached and let them dry out for a week or two - the pods crack open then and the seed falls out easily. I then dry the seed for a week or two and replant as and when required. If you are keeping seed it will certainly need to be dry or it will just rot. As for planting green seed I've never tried it so??? The seeds need to be fully developed so I would assume this is when they are pretty much dry.

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03 Dec 10, Lesley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi, I planted rocket seeds in a large pot with organic soil about 3 months ago. They sprouted very quickly then when they were about 1 centimetre they went purplish colour. Now 3 months later they are only about 2 cms high!!! (In another pot (about 3 months ago) using the same soil I planted seeds from same pack - these grew to about 2 inches and didn't go purple. BUT they haven't grow anymore!!) I tried everything, not watering, watering, adding fertiliser, leaving them in constant hot sun, not so hot sun...but the purply ones have not budged!! I took one out and the roots are about 4 inches long though... I am wondering if I should just start again?? Thanks anyone who can help!!

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11 Dec 10, Helga (Australia - temperate climate)

Same thing happened to me they grew to a small size and stopped growing, my issue was over watering. Now I use a moisture meter about $10-$20 from large hardware shops . And they do very well. Also Liquid feed fish/seaweed every 2 weeks. Try digging out a bit of soil down to the bottom of your container and see if it is water logged?

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14 Dec 10, Lesley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Thanks Helga, I think you are right - the pot i used didn't have good drainage (i now know)!! Will give it another go... thanks again

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11 Nov 10, Jill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I just planted my seedlings about 2 weeks back and they are growing but flowering. Should I nip the flowers off? Will that allow them to grow longer? This is the first time I have grown this type of plant. Help please

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11 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)

You could just pick the flower out and let them keep growing but as a rule when rocket flowers it becomes bitter and not very nice to eat.The problem with using a seedling with rocket is when u plant the seedling it can sometimes give the plant the wrong message and make it think its going to die so they go into survival mode hence the early flowers. I would recommend that you pull them up and start again. Try direct sowing seeds they have a very high germination rate so are not hard to grow from seeds. Also i would suggest you grow them in a pot because they have the potential to become a weed in gardens and turf.

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08 Nov 10, darren (Australia - temperate climate)

In regards to the bitterness, it is known that rocket is tastier when they are smaller, and as it flowers and goes to seed, the leaves get bitter. Best thing to do is cut the flowers and force the flower back into vegetative state. Good luck

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22 Oct 10, Lisa Hopkinson (Australia - arid climate)

Should you let your roquet plants flower? How do you get them to keep sprouting new leaves? If they go to flower - how long does it take for them to go to seed? Do they survive beyond the flowering period?

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25 Oct 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Once they seed they're basically finished for producing leaves and die off when the seed pods have developed. The leaves get very narrow and tough. The flowers are edible, but pretty tasteless. I generally let a couple go to seed to get more plants, and toss the rest.

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