# Rocket (Eruca sativa)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/rocket · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/rocket)

Rocket · جرجير  
vegetable · exotic · family Brassicaceae · grows 0.2–0.5 m tall, 0.15–0.3 m wide · fast growth  
sun to part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 1 · salt 2 · drought 1 · shade 3 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Sep–Mar  
Uses: edible, container

## Also known as

- **English:** Arugula, Jarjeer, Jarjir, Jirjir, Jerjer, Gerger, Salad rocket, Garden rocket, Roquette, Rucola, Eruca
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa*, *Eruca vesicaria*
- **Arabic (العربية):** جرجير
- **Urdu (اردو):** تارا میرا (Taramira)
- **Persian (فارسی):** شابانک (Shabanak)

Jarjeer, the peppery salad leaf on Arab tables: sow straight into the bed from September to March, pick in about 45 days, and expect it to bolt and turn bitter as April's heat arrives.

## About

Meet rocket, the green that is on the table in the time it takes to boil the kettle. A pinch of seed sown into a raised bed in October is a patch of tender, notched leaves by mid-November, and a handful of cut leaves with olive oil and lemon makes a salad.

Its character is bright and quick, a little peppery and a little bitter. It likes cool weather, even moisture and a sunny spot with some shade in the afternoon. It is in a hurry, so it is also the first plant to bolt when the weather warms.

What it brings is the satisfaction of picking dinner in the garden: sow a short row every two or three weeks and there is always a basket of leaves. Jarjeer salad is a Middle Eastern favourite (An Edible Mosaic), and a row of your own means it is always fresh.

Rocket is jarjeer (جرجير) on a Gulf table, where it is eaten raw; An Edible Mosaic notes the word also names the salad, salatet jarjeer, commonly enjoyed in the Middle East and dressed with lemon juice, sumac and olive oil, with onion and mint. Arabic Wikipedia says it is eaten raw in salads, rarely cooked, and widely grown in all the Gulf countries. UAE shops sell it as 'Arugula Leaves (Jarjeer)' and 'Arugula Leaves (Gerger)', and Talabat lists a pack labelled UAE. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's Undersecretary named rocket leaves among the crops residents should grow at home when Plant the Emirates began in October 2024, as Khaleej Times reported.

The Ministry's calendar lists arugula for field sowing from February to March and from September to December, with no nursery stage, and gives 45 days to harvest. Dubai Garden Centre's horticulturist told The National that 'garden roquette' can be sown straight into the soil in November or December, with results in February and March. UF/IFAS says seed is planted in the fall and leaves are ready about six weeks later: cut individual leaves from plants 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) tall, and sow again every two to three weeks from fall through spring for a continuous harvest. Arabic Wikipedia says to pick before the flower buds appear.

Heat is the end of the crop. UF/IFAS says high temperatures make arugula flower, and once it flowers, or becomes leggy, the leaves may be too bitter to eat. Dubai's average high is 34°C in April, so sow little and often and finish by April. A Gulf News piece on winter gardening names arugula among fast-growing greens for late starters, and the Emirati agricultural consultant Mariam Saeed Al Jenaibi, quoted in The National's guide with Grow Your Food, recommends rocket among the easy first crops because the results show quickly. FAO's salinity table has no entry for rocket, so use clean water and sweet soil in a raised bed.

## Through the year

Rocket is sown in short rows straight into the bed from late September, and again every two to three weeks. The Ministry gives 45 days to harvest, so the first leaves are cut from about late October or November and picking continues through the winter, with sowings from October to February. Sow again in February and March for a spring crop. By April the average high is 34°C and the plants bolt, flower and turn bitter, so the last cut is in April and the bed is cleared for summer rest.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sep–Mar | Sow: Sow straight into the bed | Ministry calendar: field sowing September–December and February–March. UF/IFAS says to sow every 2–3 weeks from fall through spring, so January fits too. Dubai Garden Centre told The National to sow in November or December. |
| Oct–Apr | Harvest: Cut leaves at 20–25 cm | Ministry calendar: 45 days. UF/IFAS: about six weeks from seed; cut individual leaves as needed and pick before the flower buds open. |
| Apr–May | Heat stress: Bolting and bitterness | UF/IFAS: high temperatures make arugula flower, and flowering or leggy plants turn bitter. Dubai's average high is 34°C in April. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown in summer in Dubai; the crop ends in April or May as the heat arrives.
- **Watering in winter:** Water lightly and often, early in the morning, keeping the surface evenly moist; seedlings have shallow roots.
- **While establishing:** Keep the seed bed evenly moist until the seedlings are up, with light shade in warm October and March weather.
- **Soil:** Sweet soil with compost in a raised bed or trough, well drained and sunny with some afternoon shade. Dubai Garden Centre says UAE sand has too much salt.
- **Feeding:** Compost at sowing is usually enough for a six-week crop; add a light liquid feed if leaves pale.
- **Pruning:** Cut individual leaves when plants are 20–25 cm tall (UF/IFAS), leaving the centre to keep growing, and pick before flowering.
- **Planting:** Sow thinly in short rows every two to three weeks from September to March, with the best results from October to February.
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Whitefly; Leaf miners
- **Toxicity:** Not known to be toxic; rocket is a normal salad leaf for people. No ASPCA listing was found for it, so do not treat the plant as pet-safe without checking.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Ministry calendar gives just 45 days from field sowing to picking
- Sown straight into the bed: the Ministry lists no nursery stage
- Cut-and-come-again: pick leaves from 20–25 cm plants as needed (UF/IFAS)
- Named by the Ministry among crops for home gardens (Khaleej Times, 2024)

**Cons**
- Bolts and turns bitter in heat (UF/IFAS), so the crop ends by about April
- Needs re-sowing every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply (UF/IFAS)
- No FAO salt rating: use clean water on a crop eaten raw
- Peppery, slightly bitter leaves turn harsher as plants age (UF/IFAS)

## Common mistakes

- Sowing everything at once. Rocket is ready in about 45 days and bolts quickly, so sow a short row every two to three weeks (UF/IFAS).
- Waiting until the plant is tall and leggy. UF/IFAS says flowering or leggy plants turn bitter, so cut at 20–25 cm and pick before the flower buds appear.
- Letting the bed dry out. Shallow seedlings stall in dry soil, so keep the surface evenly moist.
- Sowing into the heat of April or May. UF/IFAS says high temperatures make arugula flower, so finish by April.
- Using salty water. FAO has no rating for rocket, so use clean water on a leaf crop you eat raw.

## Good to know

- Jarjeer is also the name of the salad: An Edible Mosaic notes the word means arugula in Arabic and is also transliterated jarjir, jirjir, jerjer and jirjer.
- Arabic Wikipedia says rocket is eaten raw in salads and is widely grown in all the Gulf countries.
- Wikipedia lists other English names for the plant: salad rocket, garden rocket, colewort, roquette, ruchetta, rucola, rucoli and rugula.
- Botanists disagree on the name: Wikipedia says some treat Eruca sativa and Eruca vesicaria as one species, while Kew's Plants of the World Online accepts them as two.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Raised-bed salad crop, Balcony trough crop, Quick filler between slower crops, Edible edging

Sow rocket in a trough or the front of a raised bed, near the kitchen, where light afternoon shade keeps it from flowering early. A short row every few weeks fits between slower crops such as cauliflower and onion, and can be pulled before they need the room. Keep it on drip, with clean water and sweet soil.

- [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md): Another cool-season salad leaf for the same bed, with a similar sowing window and a need for even moisture.
- [Radish](https://plantguide.ae/plants/radish.md): The Ministry gives radish a similar October to November window, so a salad bed can hold both.
- [Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md): A herb with a similar October to February window, sown in short rows the same way.
- [Parsley](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parsley.md): A herb for the same raised bed, with a similar need for compost-rich soil and steady water.

## FAQ

**What is jarjeer?**  
Jarjeer (جرجير) is the Arabic name for rocket, also called arugula. An Edible Mosaic notes the word is also used for the salad, and UAE shops list it as 'Arugula Leaves (Jarjeer)' or 'Gerger'.

**When should I sow rocket in Dubai?**  
The Ministry's calendar gives field sowing from September to December and from February to March. Dubai Garden Centre says to sow in November or December.

**How long does rocket take to grow?**  
The Ministry's calendar gives 45 days. UF/IFAS says leaves are ready about six weeks after sowing.

**Why does my rocket taste so bitter and strong?**  
Heat. UF/IFAS says high temperatures make arugula flower, and once it flowers or becomes leggy the leaves may be too bitter to eat. Cut younger, and finish by April.

**Can I cut rocket more than once?**  
Yes. UF/IFAS says to cut individual leaves from plants 8 to 10 inches tall, and sow again every two to three weeks.

**Can I grow rocket on a balcony?**  
Yes, in a trough or pot of compost-rich soil with morning sun and light afternoon shade. Keep the surface evenly moist.

## Related plants

[Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md) · [Radish](https://plantguide.ae/plants/radish.md) · [Spinach](https://plantguide.ae/plants/spinach.md) · [Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md) · [Parsley](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parsley.md)

## Photos

![Close-up of rocket (arugula) leaves with narrow, notched lobes](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Arugula_%2851107429934%29.jpg)  
Photo: Peter Burka / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arugula_(51107429934).jpg))

![Rocket plants growing in a long red planter set on grass](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Eruca_vesicaria_Rocket_Herb.jpg)  
Photo: aomorikuma / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eruca_vesicaria_Rocket_Herb.jpg))

![Bunches of rocket leaves wrapped in plastic for sale in a grocery store](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Arugula_for_sale.jpg)  
Photo: Jeffery Martin / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arugula_for_sale.jpg))

![A rocket flower with four cream petals marked with dark veins](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Eruca_February_2008-1.jpg)  
Photo: Alvesgaspar / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eruca_February_2008-1.jpg))

## Sources

- [UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Dates for Planting Vegetables and Fruits in the UAE](https://moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/56f7a89b/agriculture_calender_page_en.pdf.aspx)
- [Khaleej Times: UAE to help residents grow their own fruits and vegetables in home gardens](https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/environment/uae-to-help-residents-grow-their-own-fruits-vegetables-in-home-gardens)
- [The National: Garden frenzy (Dubai Garden Centre advice on soil and sowing dates)](https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/garden-frenzy-1.553767)
- [The National with Grow Your Food (supported by Dubai Municipality): From seed to harvest, advice for gardeners in the UAE (reprint)](https://thearabianpost.com/from-seed-to-harvest-some-essential-advice-for-gardeners-in-the-uae/)
- [Gulf News: Winter gardening in the UAE, a budget-friendly guide to growing your own vegetables](https://gulfnews.com/friday/home/winter-gardening-in-the-uae-a-budget-friendly-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables-1.1733397053629)
- [FAO: Crop salt tolerance data (Annex 1)](https://www.fao.org/4/y4263e/y4263e0e.htm)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list (no entry found for this plant)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Arugula](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/arugula/)
- [Talabat UAE (Al Mazaia): Fresh Arugula Leaves (Jarjeer) - UAE](https://www.talabat.com/uae/grocery/661364/al-mazaia/herbs-leafy-greens/herbs?aid=2436)
- [Lulu Hypermarket UAE: Arugula Leaves (Gerger) 1 Bunch](https://gcc.luluhypermarket.com/en-ae/arugula-leaves-gerger-1-bunch/p/2502795/)
- [An Edible Mosaic: Tangy Arugula Salad with Sumac (Salatet Jarjeer)](https://www.anediblemosaic.com/tangy-arugala-salad-with-sumac-salatat-jarjeer/)
- [Wikipedia: Eruca sativa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruca_sativa)
- [Wikipedia: Eruca vesicaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruca_vesicaria)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: جرجير](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1)
- [Urdu Wikipedia: تارا میرا](https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7_%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7)
- [Persian Wikipedia: شابانک](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%A9)