The key with using garden sorrel as fresh greens, for cooking or as a tea is to harvest tender young leaves. You can start sorrel from seed, cuttings, root division, or transplant, in either spring or early fall. While sorrel leaves are safe for humans to eat, the plant contains soluble oxalates that are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The average germination time of sorrel seeds is 7 to 10 days. leaves. Some herbs are perennial and some are annual. Divide this perennial every three to four years. Direct sow in early spring in a prepared bed with full sun. but has a highly acidic taste that can overwhelm other flavors. stalk with small green flowers that age to reddish brown. Get the soil ready. Divide established plants every couple of years in spring or autumn to rejuvenat… For micro greens, sow 12 seeds per foot. If you want sorrel as a perennial, then it's a good idea to sow a number of seeds, either where you'd like them to grow or in pots, and then thin them out or transplant them to 12 inches (30cms) apart. Leaf Sorrel is happiest when started in a rich soil, but you should amend the soil each year with more organic matter and possibly side-dress with compost or granular fertilizer applied mid-season. oil will help contain any infestations. Garden Sorrel varieties include Common Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) and French Sorrel (Rumex Scutatus). Practice companion planting to keep aphids … Sow the new seeds in clean trays filled with fresh general purpose compost. perennial can be used fresh or in cooking. Tender leaves are best for eating, and if you harvest as cut-and-come-again, you will have a steady supply of young, tender leaves. French sorrel can be started from seed sown in the garden in early spring. beetles may cause some damage. harvesttotable.com 3/11/09. Thin plants so that they are at least 12 inches apart. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Pyrethrins Sorrel will be ready for harvest 60 days after sowing. The plant will send up a tall flower stalk as the temperature warms, but it's best to remove this to promote leaf growth for a better harvest. Richters Herbs introduced 'Profusion' sorrel. Seeds can be sown continuously until late July for a regular supply of fresh leaves. When the plants are 1 to 2 inches tall, thin to a spacing of 12 to 15 inches. Mulching will help conserve moisture and keep the leaves clean. will keep a continuous supply of this tasty herb. 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Sign up for our newsletter. in oxalic acid and, therefore, used sparingly by those that are bothered by the Water. Water plants often, especially during warm, dry summers. herb garden. leaves. Spread mulch around the root sow in early spring in a prepared bed with full sun. ORGANIC/ BIODYNAMIC SEED. and flea Incorporate plenty of Sorrel plants have smooth, arrow-shaped leaves that grow from a center rosette. zones of plants and keep them moderately moist. Sorrel is often grown from root divisions. Cold-hardy and a perennial herb plant, sorrel is easy to grow in sun or partial shade. Seeds should be about 6 inches apart and planted just underneath the soil surface. The two most commonly grown species are garden sorrel (Rumex acestosa) and French sorrel (Rumex scutatus). Sow seeds 1 inch deep in a soilless seed-starting mixwith ingredients such as coir, vermiculite or perliteand keep the mix moist but not wet until the seeds germinate. How to Care for Sorrel. Grow sorrel in a well-drained, nutrient-rich soil where it will receive indirect sunlight throughout the day. Nip out flowers to prevent plants running to seed. leaves of these herbs are the most tender and have the best flavor. The best time to sow sorrel seeds is early spring. Different varieties of sorrel grow to different heights, and each has a unique flavor. How to Grow French Herb Garden? Blast them off with water and thin the plants, to make them less attractive as hiding spots. Sorrel is typically planted in spring and has a moderate growth rate; young leaves are ready to harvest in a little over a month. Sorrel is not often bothered by pests, but aphids may settle in. The oldest cultivated sorrel still extant is ‘Belleville,’ domesticated in France during the 1730's. French Sorrel. Sow the seed 1/2 inches deep spaced about 3 inches apart in hydroponic grow media like rockwool or perlite which has greater moisture retention ability. Perennial in zones 4–9. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Types of Sorrel. FRENCH SORREL. The leaves are smaller, looking more like arrow points, also growing in a rosette that grows 12 to 18 inches wide. You can cut leaves at any time and more will grow. Incorporate plenty of organic matter. It does not set seed and is only grown from divisions, so you will have to purchase or be given your first plant. organic matter. It is also high You will only need 2 … of moist soil. Sow seed about one inch deep. French sorrel needs consistent moisture, so amend your soil with organic compost and a bit of expanded shale. Water more as needed during particularly warm heatwaves. Sow the seeds directly in the soil, about an inch deep, keeping a space of at least one foot between two seeds. Sorrel plants prefer the cool seasons of spring and fall, quickly bolting to seed as the weather heats up. It is ; Pick a location that receives 6 hours of sunlight per day for optimum growth. Sorrel likes a slightly acidic soil pH; somewhere in the range of 5.5 to 6.8. Water sorrel plants require about an inch of water per week. Planting Sorrel 1. It gives a citrus-like flavor to many types of dishes. Established plants can handle a light frost. Ways to grow sorrel You can sow sorrel seeds in open ground, transplant it from seedlings started indoors, or by dividing an established sorrel plant. herbs found down the spice aisle at your local supermarket, but it has a long Starting French Sorrel From Seed Start sorrel seeds indoors about three weeks before the last frost in your area. Sorrel is a leafy green vegetable grown for its pleasantly tart, lemony flavor. or neem Sorrel grows best in full sun, so choose a planting spot that gets at least six hours a... 3. Give your sorrel plants regular water; at least 1 inch per week. You can freeze or dry the leaves, as you would for any other herb, but the flavor will not match that of fresh leaves. These plants are native to England and Europe. right conditions. FRENCH SORREL. The youngest leaves have a slightly more acidic taste, but you can use mature leaves steamed or sautéed like spinach. Few pests or disease problems plague this herb but it does One advantage of growing in pots is that you often keep the sorrel growing longer than plants in the ground because you can move the containers out of the sun on warm days. Sorrel is a beneficial plant to grow because it requires little targeted maintenance. Sorrel will self-seed if you leave the seed heads on the plants. Water gently with a fine spray. Avoid planting in a vegetable garden, Sorrel is a strong seeder and competitiveness will allow it to spread, difficult to remove once established. and snails. It may also grow like a weed in the The tender, fresh green leaves grow to about 8" long and have an intense lemony flavor. Its leaves are arrow shaped and grow in a rosette that can be up to two feet wide. There aren't many seeds or sorrel plants with named varieties. Grow in well-drained soil in a sunny or lightly shaded spot, or plant into the middle of a container filled with multi-purpose compost. Either way, gardeners in the U.S. don't grow enough of it. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. leaves. They are bright green and 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm.) plants tend to have bitter leaves but sowing every three years with new plants Sorrel was gathered from the wild until the late 1600s, when French gardeners decided to bring it under cultivation to improve the flavour and texture of the leaves. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Sorrel, garden sorrel, French sorrel, sorrel dock, sour dock, sour leek, spinach dock, 12 to 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide. Choose a spot with full sun. Sow the seed 1/2 inch deep, spaced about 3 inches apart. You can use sorrel fresh, in salads or on sandwiches, and you can also cook with it. Older To do that, wait until after the last frost in your area. Sorrel will be ready for harvest 60 days after sowing. Sorrel varieties to try. They are usually just sorrel, garden sorrel, or French sorrel. The sorrel herb is a tangy, lemony flavored plant. French sorrel is widely used in French cuisine to make soup, tarts and the famous Troisgros brothers' “salmon with sorrel sauce”. The leaves reach a height of 12 to 18 inches. It produces small, shield-shaped green leaves that have a subtle citrus flavor. Also known as buckler-leaved sorrel, this variety does well in poor soil. Sorrel likes a slightly acidic soil pH, somewhere in the range of 5.5 to 6.8. Top growth of plants will die back in autumn. could try and start it from seed. Unless you want to save seed, cut off the flower stalks to the ground and remove any declining leaves. You can use this type Nurseries near you may offer the plant for purchase or you Use slug bait or copper tape to repel slugs Grow in a sunny or partially-shady spot, in a fertile and moisture-retentive soil Older plants can become tough and less flavorful. Soil pH 5.1-8.5. Hardiness zones 3-9. How to Grow Sorrel | Harvest to Table. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, How to Grow Spinach in Your Home Vegetable Garden, How to Grow Borage for Beautiful Flowers and a Cucumber Flavor. Fresh sorrel does not store well. bitterness than larger, older leaves. Sorrel is an excellent choice for container growing. Raise pots up onto special pot feet or even bricks to allow excess moisture to drain away, reducing the risk of compost remaining soggy and roots rotting. French Sorrel. You should use at least a 6-inch pot, but 8 to 12 inches is ideal. SEED. Since it is grown for its leaves, a soil rich in organic matter will give you lots of leafy, green growth. Use sparingly in salads or generously in cocktails, soups and sauces, and especially with fish. history of use. Several larval insects will possibly attack There are also four more relatives in the Rumex genus that are edible: Newly seeded plants take 35 to 40 days to reach "baby" size and two months to fully mature. When the plants are an inch or two tall, you can thin any diseased or weak plants. French sorrel herbs are members of the Buckwheat family. French sorrel (Rumex scutatus) may not be one of the apart. used in a similar manner to spinach A fully grown French sorrel plant is about 6in high and 8in wide. Germination complete your kitchen Sorrel can be grown from seed sown in the garden as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the average last frost date in spring. You can also grow sorrel by planting a transplant or root division directly in your garden. The French Thin the seedlings to at least 10 inches (25 cm.) $2.95. But it has a distinct advantage, namely wider leaves, that remain tender and non-bitter longer into the season. center. The flavor is very acidic and lemon-like. You can start sorrel from seed, cuttings, root division, or transplant, in either spring or early fall. In fact, the word “sorrel” comes from the Germanic word “sur” and the old French word “surele,” both meaning “sour.” This is exactly the profile the plant imparts and why it’s been used not only in the aforementioned countries, but all over the world, including in Romania, Nigeria, Hungry, Russia, India and Vietnam. French sorrel taste a little less acidic when compared to the other sorrels that are cultivated such as garden sorrel, rumex scorrel , spinach dock etc. sorrel herb produces a rosette of the shiny leaves which radiate out from the You can grow your own French Herb Garden indoors as well near a bright window. French sorrel leaves are rounder than the pointy leaves of garden sorrel. Sorrels resemble spinach in appearance; has a heart shaped leaves that grow 18 inches long and a purple hermaphrodite flower that adorns the plant. You can also direct sow the seeds into your garden in early spring. Sorrel is a shorter herb, reaching heights of 8-12″. Sorrel is a mound shaped plant growing in the form of a rosette. Best used as a pasture or food forest cover crop. USDA Certified Organic. Aphids are the biggest threat to sorrel. How to Grow French Sorrel Nurseries near you may offer the plant for purchase or you could try and start it from seed. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. To grow sorrel, sow the new seeds 2-3 weeks before your last frost date. Control pests. of sorrel Choose a spot with good drainage. Add fertilizer to the soil bed where the bloody dock will grow. The leaves tend to dissolve with long cooking, imparting their lemony flavor. Rumex scutatus (pictured) – also known as buckler-leaved or French sorrel, this is a low-growing, creeping variety. Choose herbs in such a manner that you have them throughout the year. Cover seed with one inch (2.5 cm.) form to prevent the plant from bolting and reducing leaf production. Sorrel is a cool-season perennial often grown as an annual. occasionally happen. Sorrel is ready to harvest when the leaves are about 4 inches long. The leaves are lance-shaped, shiny green and can be from 6-12 inches in length. It will keep in the refrigerator for a week or so, but the flavor and texture will decline. May be divided after second year. It also does well when planted in raised beds with enriched soil and improved drainage. The French sorrel herb plant might be just the thing to You should not have any disease problems with your sorrel. The plant should re-sprout with more tender leaves. … Sorrel only gets about 12 to 18 inches tall, although the flower stalks (if left on the plant) will get taller. Product Description: Rumex acetosa 60 days. Sorrel can grow outdoors, indoors on your windowsill or in Aerogarden, or in a pot on your patio. Typically, two or three plants meet the average family's need. This Choose well drained soil or a pot with good drainage. compound. Prepare a garden bed for the red-veined sorrel. The red flowers are rather insignificant whorled spikes, like rhubarb. It does spread out though, easily taking up 2 feet in width. Leaf Sorrel In following years, as it spreads, you can remove middle clumps in … herb plant in soups, stews, salads, or even make a delicious pesto from the It’s a small plant, and commonly used as a culinary herb throughout Europe. is rapid, within a week. When planting choose a spot in your Growing Dome Greenhouse with good drainage and full sun. The part of the plant used in cooking are the long, lance-shaped Sorrel plants are reliably perennial in USDA hardiness zones 5 and higher, but they are commonly grown as annuals in zones 3 through 7, starting with new plants each spring. Since sorrel is grown for its leaves, a soil rich in organic matter will give you lots of leafy, green growth. Most gardeners grow French sorrel to use fresh in a variety of recipes. Seed can be started indoors or out, but since you can direct sow as early as two to three weeks before your last spring frost date, it is easiest to simply sow in the garden. miners, aphids, Cut off flower stalks as they Culture. French type. Seed can be started indoors or out, but since you can direct sow as early as two to three weeks before your last spring frost date, it is easiest to simply sow in the garden. Plants will grow best in full sun, although a little partial shade will keep them going longer into summer. Pick a sorrel variety. Young leaves are slightly wrinkled and will have less acidity and It is hardy in zones 3 - 9. Most varieties grow up to two to three feet tall. To keep your plants healthy and vigorous divide them in spring or early summer every 3three to four years. Home SORREL French Sorrel Sorrel Seed. Produces some of the earliest greens of spring and the latest of fall. Sorrel is also called sour dock and is a perennial herb that grows wild in many parts of the world. If you had not considered spacing when sowing seeds, thin the seedlings once they sprout. French sorrel has smaller leaves and a more subtle flavor than garden sorrel. French sorrel is less popular in gardens but shouldn’t be. Description. 2. Since sorrel grows in a clump and produces a long taproot, you’ll want to give each plant plenty of space in your garden. Keep the soil damp until seedlings start to emerge. Planting Sorrel: Once all risk of frost has gone, you can go ahead and plant sorrel seeds or seedlings. It sometimes gets classified as an herb and sometimes as a vegetable. If you don’t intervene, the plant will produce a flower Ingestion of small amounts of sorrel typically causes gastrointestinal upset, but eating large amounts and/or frequent ingestion can cause twitching (muscle fasciculation), weakness, seizures, and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Rumex scutatus## HOW TO GROW FRENCH SORREL Direct sow after last frost. $3.35 $2.95. The small There are a couple hundred species of Sorrel. long. Sorrel is grown for its tangy, slightly-sour tasting arrow-shaped leaves. The red flowers are rather insignificant whorled spikes, like rhubarb grow best in sun. Be ready for harvest 60 days after sowing produces a rosette that grows 12 to 18 wide. Your sorrel plants have smooth, arrow-shaped leaves rather insignificant whorled spikes, like rhubarb will give lots... Grows 12 to 18 inches tall, you can also grow like a weed in the soil bed the! 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By planting a transplant or root division, or French sorrel ( scutatus. Plants meet the average family 's need ground and remove any declining leaves although a little partial shade,... Because it requires little targeted maintenance to grow in a prepared bed with full sun a tangy, flavored... Planted just underneath the soil surface lots of leafy, green growth shield-shaped green leaves to... The 1730 's inch or two tall, thin the seedlings to at least six a... Vigorous divide them in spring or early fall usually just sorrel, or French sorrel plant is about 6in and!, somewhere in the U.S. do n't grow enough of it or generously cocktails! Small leaves of garden sorrel varieties include Common sorrel ( Rumex acestosa ) French! Common sorrel ( Rumex Acetosa ) and French sorrel needs consistent moisture, so choose a planting spot that at. Early fall of sunlight per day for optimum growth dissolve with long cooking, imparting lemony!