Rocket ‘Pronto’ – A Tasty, Fast-Growing Salad Rocket!

Rocket ‘Pronto’ is a visually striking and fast-growing salad green with serrated leaves resembling those of wild rocket (Diplotaxis sylvestris). It adds a gentle spice and a nutty, peppery flavour to dishes. Considered a notable improvement over standard varieties, rocket has been a popular salad ingredient in England since the Elizabethan era. Interestingly, its seeds were used in ancient aphrodisiac recipes dating back to the first century AD, according to the Cambridge World History of Food—though results may vary.

Fresh rocket adds a peppery bite to salads and complements seafood particularly well. It also holds its own as a stand-alone green and brings a distinctive flavour when lightly cooked, making it a great substitute for spinach in warm dishes and stir-fries.

Known as arugula in North America and salad rocket in other regions, it enjoys particular popularity in Italy and southern France. It’s a staple in mesclun salad mixes thanks to its aromatic and zesty flavour.

Rocket is simple to grow from seed and does best in cool weather. It can be sown directly into the garden or started as seedlings in spring or autumn. Sow seeds 3 millimetres deep, spaced 40 centimetres apart, in full sun or partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. In warmer months, partial shade will help reduce excessive pepperiness in the leaves.

Harvest young leaves for a milder taste. As they mature, the leaves develop a stronger, hotter flavour. To keep the plant producing, pinch out flower buds as they appear. The flowers themselves are small and white with dark centres, and they offer a subtle, peppery taste that’s perfect for salads.

To store, rinse the leaves in cool water and dry them thoroughly on paper towels. Keep them in a plastic or zip-lock bag and use within two days for best freshness.

Rocket is a nutritional powerhouse, rich in folate, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and iron. As a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, it also contains beneficial phytochemicals like indoles, which are associated with cancer-fighting properties.

Around the world, rocket is known by many names. It’s called arugula in American English, rucola in Italian, roquette in French, and rauke in German.

Planting Guide:

Sow: Directly or as seedlings in spring or autumn.
Depth: 3mm
Spacing: 40cm between plants and rows
Germination: 7–21 days at 15-20°C
Maturity: Ready in 60 days