Rumex acetosa
Sorrel
Common names: Field sorrel, Large sorrel
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Spacing
- 25 cm, rows 30 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Apr, May, Aug
- Harvest
- Apr–Oct
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −20 °C
- Water need
- Medium
- Origin
- Native to Germany
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Sorrel is a hardy perennial that produces fresh, tart leaves from early spring through autumn. Its bright, slightly acidic flavor adds a lively kick to salads, soups, and traditional German green sauce.
Care instructions
Plant sorrel in a partially shaded spot with moist, humus-rich soil and keep it consistently damp. Remove flower heads early to keep the leaves tender and encourage continued growth. Divide the clump every few years to maintain vigor and productivity.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–May, Aug
HarvestApr–Oct
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 8 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 7 to 21 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- 0.5 cm
- How to start
- Sow straight into the bed
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
loamy, humus-rich, moist, nutrient-rich
Common sorrel likes humus-rich, loose and evenly moist soil with a slightly acidic to neutral reaction (below pH 7). Loamy, humus-rich soils with good moisture retention and drainage at the same time are ideal. It does not tolerate waterlogging or strongly chalky soils.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–Apr
In early spring, before new growth, work in mature compost shallowly; a little horn shavings as a slow-release nitrogen source complements it well. After a hard summer cut, a light dose of compost supports regrowth. Feed sparingly overall, because over-feeding worsens the flavour.
Overwintering
Common sorrel is a hardy, long-lived perennial and gets through winter in the ground in Central Europe without any problem; no covering and no winter preparation needed. In late autumn, cut the old foliage back close to the ground, and the strong root will reliably sprout again in spring.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
Sowing: You can start common sorrel indoors from March or sow it directly in the bed from April. Since the seeds need light to germinate, press them down only lightly, without covering them with soil. At around 15 °C the seeds germinate within 10 to 15 days. Later, thin the seedlings to 25 to 30 cm apart.
Division: Every 3 to 4 years, it is best to rejuvenate the perennial by dividing the rhizome. This revives the clump and prevents it from becoming too wide and sluggish. Dig up the rootstock in spring (before growth starts) or in autumn and divide it with a sharp spade into several sections, each with at least one strong shoot and some root. Plant large pieces directly at the new location; pot up smaller sections first and plant them out once they are well rooted.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
For your garden
Grow Sorrel yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
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