Rocket

Garden rocket, also known as cultivated rocket, is a small annual native to the Mediterranean basin, now thriving in the organic vegetable gardens of our cooler climates. Its deeply lobed, deep green leaves add a touch of vibrancy to any available patch of soil, whether in a flower bed, a pot, or a planter on the balcony.

In a harmonious garden, arugula establishes itself as a discreet yet generous companion plant: it germinates quickly, covers the ground, and offers a succession of young leaves with a peppery flavor. By allowing a few plants to flower, you'll discover a white bloom with purplish veins that attracts pollinators and accompanies the cycle of the seasons, while also providing seeds for a truly sustainable approach to seed saving.

Italian rocket Sylvetta is a small leafy vegetable, known for its high cold resistance and remarkable stability in cultivation. Unlike common rocket, it has very little tendency to bolt, making it a particularly interesting variety to grow in Quebec.

Its finely cut leaves develop a pronounced nutty flavor, more intense and deliciously peppery than that of annual rocket. This aromatic richness is fully expressed when the leaves are harvested young, between 10 and 15 cm tall.

In the garden, Sylvetta stands out for its rapid growth and great versatility. It allows for successive sowings every two weeks, ensuring a continuous harvest over a long period. Very hardy, it adapts well to outdoor cultivation in spring and autumn, as well as to container gardening. It can even be grown indoors during the winter, providing fresh greenery out of season.

Behind the evocative name of Japanese Wasabi rocket lies a brassica with a very distinctive character. Inspired by the pungent flavors enjoyed in Asia, this rocket offers finely cut leaves with a vibrant flavor, reminiscent of the aromatic warmth of wasabi when you bite into a freshly picked young leaf.

In the garden, it proves a reliable companion to the vegetable patch: rapid growth, abundant foliage, and staggered harvests as soon as the soil warms up slightly. In a thriving garden , it is sown in small, successive strips between rows of slower-growing vegetables to fill the space and cover the soil. Its small, unassuming flowers, typical of the cabbage family, mark the cycle of the seasons and provide an additional food source for passing insects when a few plants are allowed to go to seed.

Its presence fits in quite naturally with a respectful approach to cultivation : it is harvested at the pace of needs, its bolting to seed is observed, and some seeds can even be left to sow themselves, thus reconnecting with an ancestral gesture that strengthens the intimacy with the garden.