Sorrel
Sorrel is a vegetable in the Polygonaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 3-7. Plants reach harvest about 38–63 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
4 from High Mowing, Seeds Now & True Leaf Market · sorted by days to maturity▸Sorrel38–52 days
Gourmet ingredient; Perennial; Early spring green
Brightly flavored, lime-green leaves with sharp, lemony flavor and tender texture. Long 8” leaves are highly flavorful and are often used to accent and enliven dishes with notes of peppery citrus. Can be spring-sown but better in fall for harvest in early spring, when leaves are most tender and mild. 34M seeds/oz. Rumex acetosa
Growing notes: Common sorrel is a hardy perennial grown for its tart, lemony leaves. Direct sow in early spring or late summer about 1/4 inch deep, thinning plants to 12-18 inches apart. Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil with a pH of about 5.5-6.8, in full sun to partial shade. Germinates in 7-21 days. Harvest young leaves regularly beginning at 4-6 inches tall, about 8 weeks from sowing, to encourage tender new growth; remove flower stalks to extend leaf production.
View on High Mowing ↗▸Broadleaf47–63 days
Direct sow; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Matures in <90 days; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
Broadleaf Sorrel thrives in garden beds and containers, bringing a vibrant, lemony tang to your kitchen. This hardy perennial produces large leaves—up to 8 inches long—perfect for fresh salads, cooked greens, or aromatic soups. The bright, tangy flavor pairs beautifully with fish and adds distinctive zest to any dish. Once established, it returns year after year with minimal care, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners. Slightly tangy lemon flavor. The leaves grow up to 8" long! Can also be cooked like spinach or even used in soups. Ready to harvest in 55 days. 55 days to maturity Broadleaf Sorrel thrives in garden beds and containers, bringing a vibrant, lemony tang to your kitchen. This hardy perennial produces large leaves—up to 8 inches long—perfect for fresh salads, cooked greens, or aromatic soups. The bright, tangy flavor pairs beautifully with fish and adds distinctive zest to any dish. Once established, it returns year after year with minimal care, making it an excellent choice for both experienced gardeners and beginners. Ready to harvest in 55 days.
View on Seeds Now ↗▸Garden Large Leaf50–60 days
...; Perennial
50-60 Days to maturity. Rumex acetosa. Organic Garden Large Leaf Sorrel Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Enjoy a perennial herb that's both hardy and flavorful—our Organic Garden Sorrel brings a bright, lemony zing to salads, soups, and savory dishes, and returns year after year. Cold-hardy and easy to grow, it’s one of the first fresh greens of spring and a delight to use into summer when harvested regularly and maintained. ~15,000 seeds/oz.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Large leaf50–60 days
Direct sow; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Matures in <90 days; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
Large Leaf sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a perennial leafy vegetable with a sharp, lemony flavor. It grows in full sun to part shade and produces best with regular moisture. Harvest young outer leaves and remove flower stalks to keep new foliage coming.
View on Seeds Now ↗
Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space sorrel about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your sorrel planting
Add sorrel to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Clean up debris and sanitize at season end
SanitationUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careRemove spent plants and fallen debrisstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pull and clear old plants, dropped fruit, and leaf litter at season end, since many pests and diseases overwinter in this debris; dispose of diseased material rather than composting it.
- Routine careClean tools, stakes, and cagesmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Wash and sanitize stakes, cages, and tools that touched diseased plants before storing or reusing them to avoid carrying pathogens into next season.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your sorreland we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Japanese beetles
Pestmoderate- CulturalHandpick into soapy water· every 1 days · ~4 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
In early morning when beetles are sluggish, knock them into a bucket of soapy water; daily removal also reduces the scent that draws in more beetles. Skip the lure traps, which tend to attract more beetles than they catch.
- CulturalCover plants past bloommoderate evidence — extension confidence
On crops that have finished flowering and set fruit, drape a row cover or netting to keep beetles off without blocking pollination during bloom.
Slugs & snails
Pestmoderate- CulturalTrap, hand-pick at night, reduce cover· every 2 days · ~3 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pick at night with a flashlight, set shallow beer traps, water in the morning so soil dries by dusk, and clear damp hiding spots.
- OrganicIron-phosphate bait - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Scatter a labeled iron-phosphate slug bait sparingly per the label; it's pet- and wildlife-safer than metaldehyde.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.