The sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a wild vegetable that can be used in many different ways in the kitchen and can be collected on walks from unpolluted meadows. With targeted cultivation in the garden, the yield within a season can be increased through certain care measures.
How do I care for sorrel in the garden?
The care of sorrel includes a sunny to partially shaded location, nutrient-rich soil, regular watering in dry conditions, optional compost fertilization in spring and removal of the flower heads to increase yield. The harvest should take place by mid-June.
How much water does the sorrel need?
In nature, the sorrel likes to grow in full sun, but in partially shaded locations it usually reaches a lower height. Since it is completely dependent on rainfall in nature, it prefers medium-heavy soils with good moisture storage capacity. In the garden, it should be watered during dry summer periods when the soil is in danger of drying out.
Can sorrel also be grown in a pot?
Growing sorrel in pots is not common as it allows its roots to grow down to a depth of up to 150 centimeters. However, it is possible to grow the sorrel in a pot from seeds and then transplant it into a suitable bed in the garden.
When should sorrel leaves be harvested?
The leaves should be harvested for consumption by around mid-June, as the leaves turn reddish from around this point. This is an indicator of the oxalic acid content in the leaves, which is not very well tolerated by the stomach. If you only harvest part of the leaves on a plant, it can use the growth energy gained from the remaining leaves to grow new leaves. Young sorrel leaves have a finer consistency and can be used in the following dishes:
- Herb salad
- Frankfurt Green Sauce
- as an ingredient in omelettes and sauces
- Sockrop Soup
What to do if you have deficiency symptoms?
Stunty growth often occurs with sorrel if it is planted in a location that is too shady or on an unsuitable substrate. If you allow the seeds to be self-sowed after flowering, this species will usually choose suitable locations in the garden for propagation.
How can the yield for consumption be increased?
Remove the flower base as soon as it becomes visible on the plants. The growth energy saved in this way then flows unabated into the formation of new leaves.
Should sorrel be fertilized?
Basically, the sorrel does not need regular fertilization in deep and nutrient-rich soil. However, you can enrich its location in spring with some seasoned compost.
How does the sorrel overwinter?
The sorrel is a mostly wintergreen semi-rosette plant whose above-ground plant parts do not completely die off under the snow cover. However, even plants that have been completely cut off in the fall can sprout again in the spring, as even small parts of the roots in the ground are capable of vegetative propagation.
Tips & Tricks
So that the sorrel from your own garden is and remains a pleasure without regrets, planting and propagating it should be carefully considered. Otherwise, the multiplying plant can quickly become an intensive workload if it is to be banned from the garden and controlled again.
