Two types of rocket with spicy, hot leaves thrive in German hobby gardens for crispy salad enjoyment. Frost-hardy and perennial is just one genus. You can find out here how you can recognize a hardy rocket and accurately distinguish it from an annual mustard rocket. This is how you can properly overwinter frost-resistant rocket in beds and containers.
How to overwinter arugula in winter?
In order to overwinter rocket successfully, the hardy wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) should be used. In the bed it needs pruning and root protection, in the pot it also needs substrate mulch and winter fleece. Watering regularly is mandatory.
Identifying hardy rocket – tips
If there is arugula on the table in a German household, it is usually the spicy, aromatic salad rocket or mustard rocket (Eruca sativa). The varieties of this genus of rocket are extremely sensitive to frost and are not suitable for overwintering. The wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), on the other hand, is a hardy perennial that thrives in the garden and along the side of the path. The following table shows how you can differentiate between the two genres:
| Distinguish arugula | Perennial/hardy | Annual/frost sensitive |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Wild Rocket | Garden mustard rocket |
| Botanical name | Diplotaxis tenuifolia | Eruca sativa |
| Middle name | Narrow-leaved double seed | Real rocket rocket |
| Growth height | 70 to 100 cm | 10 to 50 cm |
| Flowering time | May to September | May to September |
| Flower color | yellow | white |
| leaves | narrow, feathery | booky-pinnate (similar to dandelion) |
| Taste | spicy | nutty, slightly spicy |
| Plant family | Cruciferous vegetables | Cruciferous vegetables |
| Genus | Double seeds | Senfrauke |
New on the market is the rocket variety 'Runway', a successful cross between salad rocket and wild rocket, which is only partially hardy.
Overwintering wild rockets – tips for beds and pots
Have you identified your arugula plant as a hardy wild rocket? Then nothing will stand in the way of multi-year cultivation if you follow these instructions. This is how you properly overwinter rocket in the bed and on the balcony:
Overwinter in the bed
- Cut arugula close to the ground after the first frost
- Cover the root disc with leaves and conifers
Winter in the bucket on the balcony
- Cut back shoots and leaves before the onset of winter
- Mulch the substrate with straw, autumn leaves or bark mulch
- Wrap the vessel with winter fleece (€23.00 on Amazon)
- Place on a wooden block in a corner of the balcony protected from the wind
Regular watering is the most important care for arugula in winter. Drought stress is the most common cause of wild rockets not sprouting in spring. If snow and rain do not deliver moisture to the bed, please water on frost-free days. Check the substrate in the pot every one to two weeks using a finger test to see whether there is a need for watering.
Tip
If the wild rocket no longer sprouts in the herb spiral after winter, it could be due to the neighboring plants. When mixed with chervil, coriander or nasturtium, rocket is often left behind.
