When to Plant Rocket (Arugula) in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow April to August. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is April.

Also called arugula, rucola, roquette.

Planting window
Sow direct in small batches through the dry season and pick young. Annual rocket bolts quickly in warmth; wild rocket lasts longer.
Days to harvest
25 days
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade essential in warm weather to slow bolting and reduce bitterness.
Water needs
Regular watering to keep soil moist. Drought stress makes leaves intensely bitter and...
Spacing
15cm apart, 25cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Rocket (Arugula) guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Rocket (Arugula)

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Rocket is a fast-growing, peppery salad green available in two types: annual salad rocket (milder, bolt-prone) and wild/perennial rocket (stronger flavour, slower to bolt). Annual rocket matures in 4-6 weeks and self-seeds prolifically. Wild rocket is slower but more heat-tolerant and perennial in mild climates. Both are essential in salad gardens and among the easiest greens to grow in Australia.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - D D D D D - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.5°C (optimal range: 5–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Rocket (Arugula) in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Sow direct in small batches through the dry season and pick young. Annual rocket bolts quickly in warmth; wild rocket lasts longer.

Soil
Well-drained soil with moderate organic matter. Not fussy about soil quality. Performs well in average garden soil.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun in cool weather. Part shade essential in warm weather to slow bolting and reduce bitterness.
Spacing
15cm apart, 25cm between rows
Watering
Regular watering to keep soil moist. Drought stress makes leaves intensely bitter and triggers bolting. Morning watering. Light, frequent irrigation best.

Companion plants: Lettuce, Tomato, Strawberry, Bean, Dill

Avoid planting near: No strong antagonists known

Grow before, grow after

Rocket belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Tropical Growing Tips for Rocket (Arugula)

Recommended Varieties

  • Wild/perennial rocket (Diplotaxis, more heat tolerant)
  • Annual rocket for dry season only

Key Challenges

  • Bolts immediately in warm conditions
  • Extreme bitterness in heat
  • Very short productive life

Pro Tips

  • Wild rocket is the only practical option for the tropics
  • Grow only in dry season with afternoon shade
  • Harvest very young (baby leaf) for mildest flavour

Harvesting Rocket (Arugula)

When ready: Baby leaf: 8-10cm (3-4 weeks). Full size: 15-20cm (5-6 weeks). Leaves should be bright green and firm. Harvest before flower stalk appears for best flavour.

How to harvest: Cut-and-come-again: cut leaves 3cm above ground. Or pick individual outer leaves. Annual rocket gives 2-3 cuts before bolting. Wild rocket gives many more cuts.

Where to next

What rocket costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this October: Ginger, Lemongrass, Basil and Okra.

The pest most likely to find your rocket: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common Questions About Rocket (Arugula)

When do you plant rocket in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does rocket grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is rocket called?

Rocket is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it arugula, rucola, roquette. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.