The sorrel (Rumex acetosa) not only grows as a wild herb in many fodder meadows, it can also be used as an edible plant in many kitchen recipes. If you plan to grow it in the garden, take into account that the sorrel will proliferate under the right conditions.
Choosing the right location for the sorrel in the garden
The sorrel reaches its greatest growth height in full sun locations with sufficiently moist soil. However, partial shade growing is sometimes preferable when planning an edible harvest, as it keeps the leaves smaller and more utilizable. The soil should be as humic and deep as possible, since the perennial sorrel overwinters in a rhizome and forms roots up to 1.5 meters long. Note that once sorrel has settled in a site, it is difficult to control again due to the storage roots and germinable seeds. Other site requirements are:
- preferably a pH below 6
- medium soil
- sufficient water supply for the development of juicy leaves
tips and tricks
To harvest the sorrel for consumption that same year, you must sow the seeds in March or April. A later sowing in August is possible, but only allows a harvest in the following year.