Query Log
The questions readers send most often, each answered with a figure, a range or a named source — and a pointer to the file that explains the detail.
Entries 01–10
01 · Salad rocket or wild rocket: what separates them?
Salad rocket is Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa, an annual with broad lobed leaves and cream, purple-veined flowers. Wild rocket is Diplotaxis tenuifolia, a short-lived perennial with narrow serrated leaves and yellow flowers. File 01.
02 · Why does my rocket flower so quickly?
Long days combined with temperatures above roughly 25 °C trigger bolting; drought accelerates it. Sow March–May or mid-August–September and keep soil evenly moist. File 02.
03 · Why does it taste so hot or bitter?
Glucosinolates break down into pungent isothiocyanates when leaves are cut or chewed. Levels rise with heat, drought and leaf age. Cut younger leaves in cool weather for a milder result.
04 · How do I stop flea beetles?
Cover rows at sowing with insect mesh of 0.8 mm or finer, seal the edges and keep the soil surface moist. File 03.
05 · Can I grow rocket in winter?
Yes, under glass, a polytunnel or fleece. Sow Eruca from October to February under cover; growth slows considerably below about 5 °C, so expect longer intervals between cuts.
06 · How many times can I cut it?
Eruca typically gives two to four cuts before bolting; Diplotaxis regrows repeatedly through a season when cut 2–3 cm above the crown. File 04.
07 · Are the flowers edible?
Yes. Eruca flowers taste like a milder leaf; Diplotaxis flowers are smaller and sharper. Young green pods are edible too.
08 · Is rocket suitable for people taking warfarin?
Rocket contains about 108.6 µg vitamin K per 100 g (USDA FoodData Central). Keep vitamin K intake consistent and consult your clinician before changing your diet.
09 · How should I store harvested rocket?
Cool quickly. At 0–1 °C and 95–98% humidity it keeps about 7–10 days; in a domestic fridge at 3–5 °C expect 3–5 days. Keep it away from apples and tomatoes.
10 · How deep does a container need to be?
At least 15 cm for salad rocket and 20 cm for wild rocket, with drainage holes and peat-free compost.
Reviewed each January.
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