When to plant Sorrel in Arid Australia

Arid zone — applies to Alice Springs, Mildura, Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie, Port Augusta and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Subtropical · Tropical.

Raise sorrel as seedlings and transplant, sowing from March to May in autumn or August to October in spring to sidestep the summer extremes. Seed germinates in 14-21 days and this hardy perennial herb is ready to pick in around 60 days. Sow at a 5 mm depth and set plants 30-50 cm apart in rows 30-45 cm apart. In arid gardens around Mildura and Port Augusta, a spot with afternoon shade and steady moisture keeps the sharp, lemony leaves tender; grown in full desert sun without water it turns tough and runs quickly to seed.

Sowing calendar — arid zone

Green months are your sowing window: March to May and August to October.

Growing notes

Sorrel is a hardy perennial that will live for years in the dry inland once established, but its appeal is the tender, lemon-sour young leaf, and heat is the enemy of tenderness. The plant itself survives the extremes of Broken Hill or Alice Springs readily enough; the challenge is keeping the leaves soft and mild rather than leathery and bitter.

The main failure mode is bolting and coarse leaves in summer. Sorrel grown in full, relentless sun with irregular water bolts to seed and stops producing worthwhile leaves. The fix is siting: give it morning sun and afternoon shade, keep the root zone mulched and consistently moist, and cut the flower stems out the moment they appear. Doing so keeps the plant in leaf-producing mode rather than seed-production.

Harvest the outer leaves continually from the outside in, which encourages a steady supply of fresh growth from the centre. In the harshest part of summer the plant may pause; rather than fight it, cut it back hard, mulch well, and it will flush again as the temperature eases in autumn. Because it is a long-lived perennial, one or two well-sited plants will supply a household, and dividing an established clump in autumn is the easiest way to make more.

Sorrel at a glance

Common questions

Why is my sorrel bitter and tough?

Heat and moisture stress are the usual causes. Sorrel grown in full desert sun with irregular water bolts and produces leathery, bitter leaves. Move it to a spot with afternoon shade, keep it mulched and evenly watered, and pick the young leaves for the best flavour.

Does sorrel survive summer in the desert?

The plant itself is very hardy and will survive, but it often pauses and toughens up in extreme heat. Cut it back hard, mulch well, and it will flush with fresh tender growth again as temperatures ease into autumn.

When should I plant sorrel in arid gardens?

Raise seedlings from March to May in autumn or August to October in spring. These shoulder seasons avoid transplanting into the worst summer heat and give the plant time to establish before conditions turn extreme.

How do I keep sorrel producing tender leaves?

Cut out flower stems as soon as they appear, harvest the outer leaves regularly, and keep the plant cool with shade and mulch. Removing flowers stops the plant switching to seed and keeps it pushing fresh, mild growth from the centre.

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