Sweet Rocket

This sweet-smelling herb is indigenous to Italy. It can now be found growing wild in much of the temperate world as a garden escapee. The old Greek name Hesperis was used by Theophrastus, the Greek botantist (370-285 BC). It is derived from 'hesperos', meaning evening, which is when the flowers are at their most fragrant.

Species

Hesperis matronalis

Sweet Rocket

Hardy biennial; very occasionally it will be a perennial, sending out new shoots from the root stock. Ht60-90cm (2-3ft), spread 25cm (10in).The4-petalled flowers are all sweetly scented and come in many colors - pink, purple, mauve and white - in the summer of the second year.

The leaves are green and lance shaped. There is a double-flowered form of this plant - Hesperis

matronalis double form. It can only be propagated by cuttings or division and needs a more sandy loam soil than sweet rocket.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Sow the seed in the autumn in prepared seed or plug trays, covering tin- seeds with Perlite. Winter the voting plants in a cold greenhouse for planting out in the spring at a distance of 45cm (18in) apart. Propagated this way it may flower the first season as well as the second.

Pests and Diseases

This herb is largely free from pests and diseases.

Maintenance

Spring: Sow seed outdoors.

Summer: In the second year dead head flowers to prolong flowering.

Autumn: Sow seed under protection.

Winter: No need to protect.

Garden Cultivation

It likes full sun or light shade and prefers a well-drained fertile soil. The seed can be sown direct into a prepared site in the garden in late spring thinning to 30cm (12in) apart, with a further thinning to 45cm (18in) later on if need be.

Harvest

Pick leaves when voting lot eating. Pick flowers as they open for using fresh or for diving.

Container growing

Sweet rocket is a tall plant; it looks attractive if 3 or 4 1-year-old plants are potted together positioned to make the most of the scent on a summer evening. Use the bark, peat, grit mix of compost and water well in summer months. No need to feed.

Culinary

Young leaves are eaten occasionally in salads. Use sparingly because they are very bitter. The flowers look attractive tossed in salads. They can also be used to decorate desserts.

Other uses

Add dried flowers to potpourris for pastel colors and sweet scent.