Why Grow Garden Sorrel?
Garden sorrel is an exceptionally easy and productive perennial green that fits beautifully into kitchen gardens, permaculture plantings, and edible landscapes. Its bright, tart flavour adds depth to fresh and cooked dishes, while its ability to regrow after cutting provides multiple harvests throughout the season. Sorrel is also deer resistant and tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.
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PLANT DETAILS
Common Names
Sorrel, Garden Sorrel
Botanical Name
Rumex acetosa
Plant Family
Polygonaceae
Life Cycle
Perennial
Native Range
Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zone
4-10
Habit
Basal leaves grow in low clumps with individual leaves measuring approximately 3–6 inches long. Flower stalks emerge in midsummer and can reach up to 4 feet tall. Plants regrow readily when cut back.
Sun & Soil Requirements
Prefers well-drained soil and partial to full sun. Highly adaptable and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions once established.
Germination& Sowing Instructions
Easy to grow from seed. Seeds may be sown in fall or spring, or throughout the growing season. Can be direct sown or started in flats and transplanted outdoors once seedlings are established.
Growing & Care
Low maintenance and dependable. Sorrel is one of the first plants to emerge in spring and continues producing tender leaves until flowering in midsummer. Plants may be cut back after bloom to encourage fresh growth for a fall and winter harvest.Harvesting
The leaves can be harvested year round for culinary use. The plants are most potent medicinally during their bloom time in summer.
Harvesting
Leaves may be harvested year round for culinary use, with the most tender leaves produced in spring and after cutting back. Plants are traditionally considered most potent for herbal use during bloom in summer.
Culinary Uses
Leaves have a bright, lemony, tart flavour and are excellent fresh in salads or added to soups, sauces, and egg dishes. Sorrel is traditionally valued for its nutritional content, including carotenoids, magnesium, iron, and vitamins C and A.
Medicinal Uses
Sorrel has been traditionally used as a digestive-supporting herb, with its sour taste believed to stimulate digestion. It has a long history of gentle use as both food and medicine.
Themes
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Kitchen Garden, Permaculture Garden.