Sorrel
Photos
It's hot this weekend - after a brief first Spring we are skipping second Spring and going straight to Summer. It's beautiful, blue and hot and today, at least, the poison wind seems to have died down. I've spent the morning ripping up all the weeds that appear to have exploded in the…
Last edited by shiny on 9 Nov 2026. View history
Sorrel
Also known as
common sorrel (EN)
garden sorrel (EN)
spinach dock (EN)
narrow-leaved dock (EN)
How to sow sorrel: Direct seed outdoors or root division
Sun requirement for sorrel: Plant in Full Sun
Sorrel is a hardy perennial herb that produces some of the earliest spring and latest fall greens. The plant has deep roots and long, wide, tapering leaves with juicy stems. Leaves have a sour, tangy, lemony taste and are delicious in salads, soups, and sandwiches. In the summer, Sorrel will bolt, producing reddish-green flowers and setting seed. This bolting can be reduced by harvesting consistently. Even if Sorrel sets seed in the summer, it will produce another set of edible leaves in the fall.
- 16
- plantings
- 3
- harvests
- 4
- seed packets
Sorrel facts
Lifespan
Perennial
living more than two years
First harvest expected
14
weeks after planting
Height × spread
60cm × 45cmRow Spacing
30cmDays until maturity
45–50 days median of members' seed packetsGrown for
leaf harvested 2 timesCrop cycle
0–0 days
FAO EcoCrop
How members grow sorrels
Sunniness
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Planted from
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Harvested for
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Photos
Sorrel crops
Sorrel plantings
Video
Where sorrels grow
Only plantings by members who have set their locations are shown.
What people are saying about sorrels
mint
lemon balm
A slow start to summer
by Skud,
I'm so very, very behind on my gardening. I was travelling heaps and had lots of other commitments through October/November, which is peak spring planting time here, and nothing got done. I've come to the realisation that if I'm going to do work that involves that sort of travel, I …
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Read more
Who's planted sorrels
- malissa Courtyard garden · Melbourne, Victoria
- piranha Back Garden · East Coast, Central...
- Skud Thornbury side garden · Ballarat, Victoria,...
- iiiiiii rb · haute marne
- Lemony Garden · Reading England
Sorrel harvests
-
shiny harvested not specified.
about 8 years ago
-
Skud harvested 0.15 kg.
about 12 years ago
-
malissa harvested 1 handful.
almost 13 years ago
shiny harvested not specified.
Find sorrel seeds
View all sorrel seeds
- Purchase seeds via Ebay
- Sign in or sign up to list your seeds to trade.
Ecological requirements
Data from the FAO EcoCrop database for Rumex acetosa L.
| Life form | herb |
|---|---|
| Life span | perennial |
| Habit | erect |
Learn more about sorrels
Resources outside Growstuff.
