tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797396120087729156.post8209465090860231683..comments2024-03-27T00:25:28.696+11:00Comments on Garden amateur: Rocket/arugula growing & harvesting tipsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14653345793213312242noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797396120087729156.post-90346125835699322252015-05-07T09:34:38.594+10:002015-05-07T09:34:38.594+10:00Hi Clint
Tough question! Safe, organic insecticid...Hi Clint<br /><br />Tough question! Safe, organic insecticides that are effective are hard work, as you have to keep on re-applying them, especially after it rains.<br /><br />I use a bottled spray product (sparingly) on some ornamental plants, not crops, which is based on pyrethrum daisies. It has a "withholding period" of one day, which means if you spray it on food plants you cannot harvest and eat any crops within one day of spraying.<br /><br />That said, I have never sprayed my rocket plants with anything, as we don't have insect pests here which like or attack rocket. So I am lucky, and unfortunately, you are not.<br /><br />I think your best bet is to experiment. For starters, try home-made soap sprays, or garlic/chilli sprays. Recipes for these are very easy to find online. Here's one link for starters:<br /><br />http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/organic-pest-spray/#.VUqkuGSqpHw<br /><br />Good luck!Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653345793213312242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797396120087729156.post-59684921025195077052015-05-07T01:48:06.052+10:002015-05-07T01:48:06.052+10:00Hi Jamie
I thoroughly enjoyed your article. Im g...Hi Jamie <br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed your article. Im growing wild and cultivated rocket here in South Africa. My only concern seems to be pests that enjoy eating the Rocket before harvesting leaving holes in the leaves. is there a pesticide or insecticide that you would recommend that I could use. I preferably am looking for an organic mixture that I could just rinse off for use.<br /><br />Your thoughts are much appreciated.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />ClintonClintBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08971608264563611532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797396120087729156.post-91908069797741751042014-08-01T06:36:40.269+10:002014-08-01T06:36:40.269+10:00Hi Michelle. 'Speedy' sounds like my kind ...Hi Michelle. 'Speedy' sounds like my kind of rocket. I'll go looking for some seeds (and hand out the leftovers to friends, of course). And that's also a good tip about re-sowing (ie, the moment you see a flower stalk forming).Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653345793213312242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797396120087729156.post-71726121655084330002014-08-01T02:02:16.860+10:002014-08-01T02:02:16.860+10:00I just can't seem to make up my mind about roc...I just can't seem to make up my mind about rocket. There was one variety of the wild type that I fell in love with a few years ago and I let it go to seed and now it permanently inhabits my garden paths. Of course the stuff in the path isn't very pampered so it tends to be extra strong. I don't harvest it so of course it goes to seed and the cycle continues. The good thing is that the beneficial insects love it so I tolerate it. Now I've found an annual one that is my new fave. It looks like wild rocket with very finely serrated leaves but is much more mild flavored. It lives up to it's name of "Speedy", reaching harvestable size in about 2 weeks. I can harvest a nice bunch of it once a week for 6 to 8 weeks until it starts to bolt. The minute I see a flower stalk starting to form I sow the next round and it's ready to harvest when the old stuff is done. I don't get the hot weather that you have so I don't know how it would behave in those conditions, but "Speedy" has been faring well this summer with just a bit of shade from some light row cover. That's my latest rocket love affair, maybe next year I will find a new one...Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.com