Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: mashauk on February 06, 2008, 19:31

Title: Rocket
Post by: mashauk on February 06, 2008, 19:31

Put some rocket seeds in the propagator on Sunday, and they were already popping their heads out on Tuesday night, fast workers or wot?

Title: Rocket
Post by: Selkie on February 06, 2008, 19:35

Aw, lovely, you should put them with Jo-n-Neil's tomato seedlings and start a salad :lol:

Title: Rocket
Post by: gobs on February 06, 2008, 19:51

Yes, that's because they are a cold crop. unless for sprouting, you really want to sow them outside.

Title: Rocket
Post by: mashauk on February 06, 2008, 22:05

Quote from: "gobs"

Yes, that's because they are a cold crop. unless for sprouting, you really want to sow them outside.

It said on the packet or in a book I forget which that I could start them in the propagator, well it's only 10 seeds so if they don't survive I've got plenty more!

Title: Rocket
Post by: gobs on February 07, 2008, 09:45

They will survive, sure, I've never done so don't know, just makes me wonder how fast they might run to seed.

Donno where the name comes from either, but they grow pretty fast outside, too.

Title: Rocket
Post by: mashauk on February 07, 2008, 10:38

Quote from: "gobs"

They will survive, sure, I've never done so don't know, just makes me wonder how fast they might run to seed.

Donno where the name comes from either, but they grow pretty fast outside, too.

Dunno, guess I'm just too over-enthusiastic at the moment, what with the new propagator and polytunnel, I'm probably starting stuff off way too early and wrong, but hey, you only learn from experience, I'm not sure I even like rocket!!

Title: Rocket
Post by: gobs on February 07, 2008, 10:40

Oh it's lovely, with toms as Selkie suggested makes a nice salads, wild rocket we just graze it's so tasty. :lol:

Title: Rocket
Post by: paintedlady on February 07, 2008, 11:12

Quote from: "mashauk"

I'm probably starting stuff off way too early and wrong, but hey, you only learn from experience

I'm a bit like you mashauk - up until I got the plots, my seed sowing used to start about March/April when there was a feeling of spring in the air.  Now I'm aiming to grow veg all year round and if the packets says you can start sowing in January, February etc then I'll do a small batch.  If it works, then I'll be dead chuffed but if it fails, well it was worth the try :wink:

Title: Rocket
Post by: gobs on February 07, 2008, 11:40

There is nothing wrong with experimenting and starting some stuff very early, it just rocket does not need a propagator, it germinates on very low temperatures, it's in the green most of the winter and self seeds and grows like weed really, but of course the winter leaves will be much tougher.

So if you want some young tender leaves early, why not?

Title: Rocket
Post by: fletch on February 07, 2008, 12:31

I agree gobs, I have had rocket in the green all winter and have started some off in a cold frame for a few early fresh leaves. I certainly wouldn't waste propogator space on them  :D

Title: Rocket
Post by: nipper31 on February 08, 2008, 16:35

A friend of mine has some rocket plants he is splitting up and he is giving me some. Can I plant these out now? If not, how will I keep them until they are ready to be planted out and when will that be?

Jan

Title: Rocket
Post by: Annie on February 08, 2008, 18:13

I`ve got rocket and salad leaves growing out side,about 6 " high at the mo.They`re in a cold frame but are doing well even though I keep forgetting to close the lid at night.

Title: Rocket
Post by: crackedflowerpots on February 08, 2008, 19:57

Quote from: "mashauk"

Quote from: "gobs"

They will survive, sure, I've never done so don't know, just makes me wonder how fast they might run to seed.

Donno where the name comes from either, but they grow pretty fast outside, too.

Dunno, guess I'm just too over-enthusiastic at the moment, what with the new propagator and polytunnel, I'm probably starting stuff off way too early and wrong, but hey, you only learn from experience, I'm not sure I even like rocket!!

We like rocket :D  :D

Title: Rocket
Post by: mashauk on February 09, 2008, 12:36

We like rocket :D  :D[/quote]

I'd best get a padlock for the polytunnel then :twisted:

Title: Rocket
Post by: Sadgit on February 09, 2008, 17:28

well after reading this, I now have rocket and spinach in my cold frame :D

Title: Rocket
Post by: gobs on February 09, 2008, 18:05

Quote from: "nipper31"

A friend of mine has some rocket plants he is splitting up and he is giving me some. Can I plant these out now? If not, how will I keep them until they are ready to be planted out and when will that be?

Jan

Only depends, how they have been grown, if they were in a cold frame, you can plant them out, if grown in greenhouse, they need hardening off.(This probably will be in the Glossary.)

I suppose you mean thinning them and not splitting, really. :)

Title: Rocket
Post by: Scribbler on February 11, 2008, 09:32

Looking forward to growing some this year. Best sown straight into the soil.

Had a big bag of supermarket rocket over the weekend. Used it first as a green salad with some parmesan grated into it, and then with tomatoes in my bacon sandwich last night.

If it tasted this good from Waitrose, it must be fantastic when really fresh.