In deciduous and coniferous forests he feels like he is in paradise. He also finds a home that he likes in many gardens. But do you actually know what the seeds of edible sorrel look like, when they ripen and how they are sown?
What do sorrel seeds look like and when can you sow them?
Sorrel seeds are extremely small, brown-black, teardrop-shaped to rounded and rich in oily fats. They ripen between June and July in five-lobed capsule fruits. The period from the end of April to the end of May is recommended for sowing.
Collection time: June to July
After flowering, the seeds ripen. The flowers can be seen from April to May. The fruits with the seeds they contain ripen between June and July. The seeds can be harvested during this period.
The best way to harvest the seeds is to pick or cut the whole fruit, take it home and dry it there. The fruits burst open when they dry and release their seeds voluntarily.
External and internal characteristics of seeds
Sorrel seeds have the following characteristics:
- extremely small and fine
- brownblack colored
- drop-shaped to roundish
- rich in oily fats
- are located in five-lobed capsule fruits
- are catapulted up to 2.50 m
- Pressure when shooting out of the fruit: Up to 17 bar
Sowing the seeds
Whether in the lawn, in the bed or between stone joints - sorrel can be sown anywhere. Sowing is comparatively extremely easy. If you want to plant the seeds at home, you should sow them in the fall. The period between the end of April and the end of May is recommended for direct sowing outdoors.
How it works:
- Fill the pot with soil (€10.00 on Amazon) (conventional potting soil is sufficient)
- Sow seeds flat (cover discreetly with soil; light germinator)
- moisturize and keep moist
- if applicable cover the pots with foil to increase humidity
- set up bright and warm
- if grown in advance: plant out in spring
Attention: The seeds of hardy species of wood sorrel need stratification. They should be exposed to cold for several months. They can be sown in late summer and put out in pots. They germinate around April/May.
Tip
Because wood sorrel likes to self-seed, it is considered a weed and is combated by many gardeners.