Sorrel typically reaches 60cm (24") high, with very strong roots that will compete with other plants. The flowers are not especially attractive, so this plant is one that can be planted behind or amongst other vigorous crops. It is usually grown as a perennial, so plant it where it can stay for a few years. It will tolerate sun or partial shade. When to plant your sorrel Sorrel doesn’t need much preparation. Simply give the leaves a wash under running water, using your fingers to dislodge any stubborn bits of dirt, and they’re ready to be used. If you’re planning on using your sorrel as a herb, then one or two plants is all that your garden needs. However, if you want to make the most of its zesty zing and use it throughout the spring and summer as a main salad ingredient and as a spinach replacement, aim to grow three to four sorrel plants per person. Growing Requirements for Sorrel Sorrel contains very high amounts of oxalic acid. This is a natural compound that’s also found in other leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, and is what gives the leaves their signature sourness.

How to Grow Sorrel From Seed at Home (2023 Harvest Guide)

Perennial. Native or naturalised in Britain, Ireland, Europe, Africa and Asia; introduced to North America and New Zealand. Habitat and Distribution The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner. However, it would also be worth considering growing your sorrel in a container. This means that you will be able to move it outdoors once the temperatures rise, which will help to extend your growing period. If you decide to do this, go with a container that’s around 20-30cm in both depth and diameter.Its tendency to appear as one of the first plants in spring meant it was once a highly valued edible green.

Sorrel Seeds - Red Veined - SimplySeed Sorrel Seeds - Red Veined - SimplySeed

Frosts will kill off foliage later in the year, but the plant will remain alive beneath the surface, ready to re-shoot in the spring. Divide plants every 2-3 years in the spring or autumn to maintain good air circulation around plants. Harvesting sorrel Alternatively, grow a few plants outdoors and then have a couple of extras in your greenhouse for the longest harvesting period. How to Care for Sorrel Garden sorrel – has a good flavour and grows prolifically. However, its flower shoots are taller than other varieties, meaning that the plant’s self-seeding habit could become a nuisance

Caring for sorrel

Sorrel is also extremely cold hardy, making it the perfect edible perennial. It will tolerate winters as cold as -30°C, but will bolt once the temperatures soar in the summer. Sorrel Red Veined is an easy to grow perennial herb that has a distinctive tangy lemony taste that adds flavour to a salad, makes an excellent soup or sauce for fish. Harvest leaves from the earliest sowings from May onwards. Later sowings will be ready in the summer. Young sorrel leaves are softer and tangier, whereas older, larger leaves are better for cooking and less flavourful. Use them fresh in salads alongside other lettuce-type leaves. Choose leaves which have an even shade of green, and that aren’t showing any signs of yellowing or crispy brown areas. Once you’re ready to get planting, weed your growing area. Then, dig holes that are large enough to accommodate each sorrel plant, along with the soil that it’s currently growing in. Sorrel is fairly resilient to most pests and diseases, and will only really be affected by these very familiar creatures… Slugs and snails

Sorrel, Common Sorrel and types of Edible UK Sorrels Wild Sorrel, Common Sorrel and types of Edible UK Sorrels

All three are easy to grow, either from seed or young plants, and are perennials so should last several years. Prepare your growing area, making sure that it’s weed-free and that the soil on the surface is light and fine If you do end up with a large number of leaves at the end of the growing season and you don’t want them to go to waste, then freezing them would be your best storage option, since sorrel doesn’t retain its flavour well when dried. Sorrel doesn’t take long to mature. Most plants are ready for harvesting just two to three months after the seeds were sown. Unfortunately, Oxalis corniculata (which is problematic in lawns) shows strong resistance to the full range of selective lawn weedkillers. Glyphosate

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Once your sorrel plants are established, they won’t need much in terms of care, especially if you’re regularly harvesting them. However, if you want your plants to truly thrive, here’s what you need to do: Watering Sorrel