Sorrel Growing Guide
Growing Sorrel is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -29°C
Plant Family
Polygonaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Sow direct in spring about 1 cm deep, or start indoors a few weeks early. Thin to 30 cm apart. It germinates quickly and is hard to kill.
Sorrel comes up readily from seed and is genuinely perennial, so one sowing feeds you for years. Lift and divide a crowded clump every few years to keep it productive.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Sorrel?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Sorrel Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Sorrel's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
1 cm
Seeding Depth
30 cm
Plant Spacing
40 cm
Row Spacing
4
Plants / Sq Ft
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 7–14 days
Growing Tips
- 1Sorrel is one of the easiest perennials — full sun, moist soil, and regular picking.
- 2Remove the flower stalks when they appear so it puts energy into leaves, and divide it every 3–4 years.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~60
Days to Maturity
45 cm
Mature Height
30 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
120 days
When to Pick
Pick outer leaves young and tender; they get sharper and tougher with age
How to Harvest
- 1Pick the outer leaves while they're young — the lemony tang is brightest then — and keep cutting through the season.
- 2Snip off flower stalks to keep the leaves coming.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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