08/06/2026
Thetford Road edible planters is looking great and there are lots of lettuce leaves that can be picked.
Unfortunately the Rocket has bolted (gone to seed) but the good news is Rocket flowers (and bolted rocket greens) are completely edible, adding a vibrant pop of color and a distinct peppery, mustardy kick to your dishes. They are best used raw as a delicate garnish or tossed whole into salads and grain bowls.
Here are three ways to use your flowering rocket:
1. Peppery Rocket Pesto
Instead of discarding bolted, flowering plants, you can easily turn the leaves and flowers into a vibrant, homemade pesto.
Ingredients:
100g (about 4 cups) bolted rocket leaves and flowers
50g (¼ cup) sunflower seeds, pine nuts, or walnuts
2 cloves garlic,
peeledJuice and zest of 1 lemon
50ml (¼ cup) extra virgin olive oil
¾ tsp sea salt
Instructions:
Wash and thoroughly dry the rocket leaves and flowers.Add the rocket, seeds, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt to a food processor or blending container.Pulse until the greens are very finely chopped.Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while blending until the pesto reaches a smooth consistency.Serve immediately over linguine, stir into soups, or spread on bruschetta!
2. Red, Green & Yellow Salad
Showcase the flowers by letting them play the role of both an ingredient and a colorful finishing herb.
Ingredients:
1 bell pepper,
finely sliced1 red onion,
cut into thin rings 2 handfuls of young rocket leaves
A generous handful of fresh rocket flowers and extra petals
Dressing:
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp white wine or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions:
Gently wash the rocket leaves and flowers and pat dry with a kitchen towel.Toss the sliced pepper, onion rings, rocket leaves, and most of the flowers into a large salad bowl.Whisk the oil, vinegar, and mustard together in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.Pour the dressing over the salad, toss gently, and garnish with the remaining flowers right before serving.
3. Fairy Cakes with Rocket Flowers
For a beautifully delicate, savoury-meets-sweet presentation, fresh rocket blossoms make a great garnish for bakes.
Instructions:
Bake a standard batch of vanilla or lemon fairy cakes (cupcakes) using a basic creamed sponge mix.Let them cool entirely on a wire rack.
Top the cupcakes with your favorite icing (such as a simple lemon or vanilla buttercream).
Top each cake with a dainty rocket flower for an elegant, peppery-sweet bite.
