Rocket Seeds: Rucola, Salad Rocket and Wild Rocket
Rocket has long been known across Europe as a spicy salad and culinary herb. Today it is often sold under the Italian name rucola, but the terms can refer to different plant species with different flavours and growth habits. In this category you will find seeds for salad rocket, wild rocket and similar plants with a nutty, sharp, cress-like aroma.
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Botanically, rocket belongs to the brassica family and is therefore related to cress, mustard, horseradish and many cabbage plants. This relationship is also reflected in the flavour: rocket tastes fresh, spicy, slightly sharp and, depending on the species, more or less nutty. Young leaves are usually milder, while older leaves often develop a stronger sharpness.
Classic salad rocket or rucola (Eruca sativa, also Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) grows quickly and is very well suited to repeated sowings. It is usually annual, mildly spicy and especially popular for salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, pesto, herb quark and Mediterranean dishes. Anyone who wants to harvest fresh leafy greens quickly is well advised to choose salad rocket.
Wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) grows more slowly, but tastes more intense, sharper and more aromatic. In suitable conditions it can be longer-lived and harvested over a longer period. Its strong flavour goes especially well with tomatoes, cheese, grilled vegetables, bold salads and savoury herb blends.
When buying rocket seeds, it is worth looking at the botanical name. Under the name rucola, salad rocket is often offered, while wild rocket is a separate species with a clearly different character. Both are valuable in the kitchen, but differ in growth, sharpness, harvest time and persistence.
Rocket is especially practical for the garden, raised bed, balcony and pot because it needs little space and is quickly ready to harvest. With regular small sowings, fresh greens can be harvested over many weeks. The leaves taste best before flowering, as later they often become stronger and sometimes slightly bitter.
- Seeds for salad rocket, rucola, wild rocket and related sharp salad herbs
- Fresh, nutty-sharp aroma for salads, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and herb cuisine
- Fast-growing brassicas for beds, raised beds, balconies and pots
With rocket seeds, you can grow spicy leafy herbs that are easy to cultivate and instantly make simple dishes more lively with their fresh sharpness.
