Wild rocket and salad rocket seeds multisown on the same day, in the same way. Planted out in the same bed, on the same day, some weeks later. Salad rocket given slightly more space (9"), wild rocket tucked in a little tighter (7").In just one week, the salad rocket is flourishing, whilst the wild is bonsai by comparison; small but perfectly formed. Erratic watering and dramatic changes in temperature (and just general heat) make all orientals bolt quickly I find. But all is not lost - the flowers are delicious (although the excited 4 year old I tried them on this weekend did not agree) and you can still pick younger new leaves for a while. Leave to flower too long and you make extra work for next year - hundreds of tiny new seedlings appearing everytime you turn your back. Not the worst thing in the world though. Particularly if you are shoddy about spring sowings.
Both plants have a pepperiness that intensifies as the plants age. Salad rocket leaves are more tender, jucier, lighter. Wild rocket is less productive initially, but prolific once up and running, with spear-like, tougher, serrated leaves. Great to mix into a salad with other leaves and divine on its own with avocado and a splash of oil and balsamic (in a kind of retro 1990's way). Remember rocket is from the brassica family - so build into a rotation (unlike normal salad leaves, which are neutral) and give extra manure before and after to the beds that will be home to it. Both can be grown in big flower pots, and are fast growing. No excuse for not having a tub or two at the back door so drop the 'but I don't have a polytunnel' line and get growing!!
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