BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Grow French Sorrel

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Two types of sorrel have been called French sorrel. Their leaves are distinctly different and one, the buckler, has a tangy, sharp lemon flavor. The Rumex scutatus, or buckler sorrel, is the type usually used by the French in sorrel soup. Both require similar care.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Tools to turn the soil

Step1

Sow the seeds of both the broadleaf and the buckler leaf sorrel in the spring directly onto the ground or begin inside several weeks before the last frost. If you're planting sorrel as an annual, you don't need to worry about the temperature zone. If you want a perennial, grow sorrel in zones 5 to 9.

Step2

Plant the broadleaf sorrel in an area that has full sunlight or light shade. The buckler leaf needs full sun.

Step3

Create an area for the buckler that's well drained. The broadleaf sorrel just likes moist rich soil that has an extra amount of iron.

Step4

Thin the seedlings to 12 inches apart.

Step5

Keep the sorrel adequately watered to make certain that the leaves are juicy.

Step6

Thin sorrel plants every 5 years if you grow them as perennials.

Step7

Gather the leaves when the plants are young. They don't have much taste when they're dried, so it's best to use them fresh or freeze them.

Tips & Warnings

Buckler leaf sorrel can tolerate slightly colder temperatures.
It is best to use the Latin name for the plants when purchasing. Rumex acetosa is the broadleaf sorrel and Rumex scutatus is the Buckler sorrel. Since the common name French sorrel can be used for both, find the plant that would suit your tastes and choose it.