Rocket never germinates

Good morning, I’m toying with the idea of buying a packet of rocket seed and trying again with it. I remember that the first time I sowed it, more than 15 years ago, it grew well, but never since. I must have tried half a dozen times. I have no trouble growing any other kind of salad, so it shouldn’t be my cultivation technique. Do you think I’ve just had monumental bad luck with my seed (various suppliers), or have you noticed a quirk about rocket that I may be unknowingly getting wrong? I love it, and have space to spare, so am itching to give it another go - eternal optimist!

 

I've never grown rocket,I don't think, just wondering if it's like lettuce and won't germinate if the temperature is too high.

 

Agree with @pete , Rocket probably likes cooler temperatures.

Mine germinate readily and just as readily bolt the moment a ray of sunshine hits them.

I'll try autumn sowing this year once there is some room.

@Emerion , it is also possible you are cursed with Rocket, I'm cursed with Chives that absolutely refuse to germinate for me

 

I seem to remember that if you save rocket seed they have a dormant period before they will germinate, however my self saved seeds (saved last year) seem to germinate OK. On the whole I find self saved seed better, eg. parsley.

 

I've never had a problem with rocket germinating, but I only grow the wild one, so I don't know if that makes a difference.
It grows happily in full sun sites, but we don't have sun to the extent of many areas further south. Damper and cloudier.

 

salad rocket is eruca sativa whereas "wild" or perrenial wall rocket is diplotaxis tenuifolia.
if you tried growing one without success try the other.
there are probably many uncultivated brassicas which would make good eating!

this site says the perrenial one is a bit more cabbagey and hotter than the salad one, and likes sandier or drier conditions than the other one. it lives for about 5 years like oregano and so on.
Perennial wall rocket | A Food Forest in your Garden

I might try nibbling the wild brassicas here to see what they are like. I dont think any are poisonous but ill check first

 

I grow cultivated Rocket(from realseeds) and rarely have any problem with germination (of any of their seed). Can agree that it is prone to flowering at the slightest hot period, and being a brassica, attractive to cabbage whites, so needs netting. It readily sets seed and these too germinate easily (direct sown or modules but must transplant at 4 leaf stage) , and keep watered.