How to grow rocket in a raised bed

Rocket (arugula) is a fast, peppery salad green that's almost impossible to fail — sow it, and you'll be picking leaves within weeks. A great cut-and-come-again filler for a raised bed.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun in cool weather, part shade in summer
• Spacing: 15 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 23 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 4–7 weeks

When to plant: Rocket loves the cool — sow from autumn through spring. In summer heat it bolts to flower and turns fiercely peppery, so give it shade or grow it in the cooler months. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Scatter seed thinly over the mix and barely cover. Pick the outer leaves and it keeps coming, or sow a fresh patch every few weeks.

Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist for mild, tender leaves — stress makes it bolt and turn hot. A light feed is plenty.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Rocket slots in happily among slower crops and self-seeds readily if you let a plant flower. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick young leaves for a milder flavour, older ones for more punch. Use it fresh — it wilts fast once cut.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.