How to Grow Garden Sorrel

Lemony sorrel works well in soups and even sandwiches.

Garden sorrel is grown for its large leaves, which boast a refreshing lemony taste when used in soups, salads and sandwiches. Grow green sorrel as a perennial bedding plant in areas with minimum temperatures of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. In colder areas, it can be grown from seed as an annual.

Things You'll Need

• Potting compost
• Seed tray
• Plastic bag
• Elastic band
• Balanced fertilizer
• Organic mulch
• Plant shears

Instructions

1. Sow sorrel seeds in a seed tray indoors at least three weeks before the last frost. Plant them 1/4 inch deep in standard potting compost, and cover the tray with a plastic bag held in place with an elastic band. Keep it on a bright windowsill at a minimum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, remove the bag once the seeds germinate. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

2. Plant your seedlings in a sunny location in the garden with rich but free-draining soil. Dig in a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1/4 cup per 10 feet of row. Leave a foot between plants to allow them to spread.

3. Keep the soil moist at all times, and never let your sorrel plants get dry enough for the leaves to wilt. Cover the soil with a layer of organic mulch at least 3 inches thick to keep the soil wet and to provide nutrients.

4. Fertilize your sorrel with 1 lb. of balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row halfway through the summer. Remove any flower stalks as soon as they emerge.

5. Harvest sorrel leaves as needed throughout the summer for use in sandwiches and salads. Harvest all the leaves before the first frost; they are best stored as a frozen puree. Cover your sorrel roots with a 6-inch layer of organic mulch to protect them from winter frost.

6. Propagate garden sorrel by dividing established clumps in the late spring once they have started to produce new leaves.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension; Growing Rhubarb and Sorrel in Minnesota Home Gardens; Jill MacKenzie; February 2009
• National Public Radio; Sorrel Makes Sour Sweet; Bonny Wolf; May 2009
• Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences: French Sorrel
• University of Maryland Extension; Leafy Greens: Kale, Collard, Mustard, Turnip and Pac Choi; Jon Traunfeld, et al.; March 2010

Resources

• U.S. National Arboretum: Cold Hardiness Ratings for Selected Woody Plants