Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel

Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel: variety and characteristics

Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a perennial vegetable of the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). Broad-leaved sorrel is a delightful herb and one of nature's most special vegetables, with a sharp flavour that can take your taste receptors through a range of sensations — lime, lemons, spinach, rhubarb, cabbage and amaranth.

Once established, the plant should produce greens for 8 to 10 years.

It can be sown at any time of the year.

The leaves are rich in vitamins (C, B1, B2, PP, carotene), proteins, mineral salts of potassium, iron and phosphorus, and malic, citric and succinic acids.

Sorrel is a perennial leaf vegetable with a pleasantly sour taste — for soups, sauces and salads. Provides greens from early spring.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 85%
• Seeds per packet: 552–748 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March – May; direct
• Harvest: April – October
• Position: sun to partial shade

When to sow Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel

Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel seeds are sown in March – May. Harvest in April – October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 20–25 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sun to partial shade

Sorrel is one of the earliest green crops and is easy to grow. Broad-leaved sorrel needs moist soils and moderate conditions. The plants have very deep and persistent roots and grow well with little attention. If you want to encourage the production of bigger and more leaves, cut off the flower stalk and the plant will give you several more harvests. You can even cut the plant right down to the ground and it will give a full new crop of leaves.

Sow in spring; remove flowering stems for more leaves.

Harvest and use

Cut the leaves repeatedly through the season.

Frequently asked questions

When should Broad-Leaved Garden Sorrel be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March – May. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 552–748 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 85%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.