Rocket This is just about the most popular salad leaf of recent years. It is easy to grow, quick to mature providing an abundance of tangy, spicy leaves. Sow outdoors from April to August. Simply make a drill where they are to crop, 1.5cm deep, directly into finely-prepared, fertile, moisture-retentive soil. For ease, secure one end of the tape with a large stone or cane, roll out the tape into the drill and gently pull tight to straighten. Cover tape with fine soil. Allow 25cm between rows. Keep moist. Early sowings may benefit from cloche protection. Water well and ensure soil remains moist to prevent plants running to seed. Thin out to 10cm apart, using thinnings in salads. No thinning is necessary if only 'baby' leaf is required. Harvest from May to October. Take a few leaves from each plant and this will give up to four cuts, or pick whole, mature plants.
