Growing Guides How to grow sorrel

Date Published:

19/02/2008

Planting time

Modular-raised sorrel seedlings should be moved from their trays to the vegetable garden in the late spring. It’s also possible to buy container-grown sorrel plants from a garden centre or herb nursery and plant them outside at the same time. They should all be spaced 30cm (1ft) apart.

Planting depth

The transplanted seedlings and root balls of container-grown plants must be planted to the same depth as in their original trays or containers.

Harvesting

Once the sorrel plants have established, the young leaves are suitable for picking on a regular basis from March until November. However, they can be gathered through the winter months if the plants are covered with protective cloches from late-autumn to the early spring.

Caring guide

Sorrel prefers a sunny (or partially-shaded) spot with a reasonably-fertile and moisture-retentive soil.

A week before sowing the seeds outdoors, fork and rake over the ground several times to establish a soil surface with a fine and level tilth - this should be free of all weeds and large stones - and scatter a general organic fertiliser over the site.

When first planted outside, transplanted sorrel seedlings and container-grown plants must be watered well to help them establish.

During the main growing season, the area needs to be kept weed-free and the plants watered regularly in dry weather. It’s also important to keep a lookout for snails attacking the plants and to remove any flower stems that appear, as this will encourage the growth of new leaves.

Harvesting guide

The tender, young basal leaves are the best ones to pick for culinary purposes as they are less bitter than the coarse, older foliage. To guarantee a constant supply of these young leaves, lightly harvest the plants on a regular basis throughout the main growing season. For the best flavour, use them on the same day as picking, although they can be frozen.