Best time to plant sorrel in Australia
Rumex acetosa
Also called common sorrel, garden sorrel, meadow sorrel, sour dock, spinach dock
Sorrel is a slender perennial from Eurasia, eaten as a herb or leaf vegetable with a sharp lemony taste. Its arrow-shaped leaves rise from a rosette on juicy stems, and plants are either male or female. The sourness comes from oxalic acid, so use it in modest amounts, especially with kidney problems.
On a shared plot: stays for years
Holds its spot for years. Check your garden's rules and how long your plot licence runs.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Mar to May, Sep to Nov | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Temperate | Mar to May, Aug to Oct | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Subtropical | Mar to May, Aug to Sep | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Tropical | Apr to Aug | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | Mar to May, Sep to Nov | Not yet checked against a local guide |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly in the bed
- Sowing depth
- 5mm
- Plant spacing
- 45cm
- Row spacing
- 30cm
- Height
- 60cm
- Germination
- 7-14 days at 20-22°C
- Time to harvest
- 65-70 days
- Frost
- Hardy, takes a light frost
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- perennial
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.