When to plant Sorrel in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Potting does not list a sowing window for sorrel in cool zones, so it is not scheduled as a bed crop here, despite being a genuinely hardy perennial. The reason is timing rather than tolerance: raising seedlings for transplant is awkward to slot into a short cold-climate season, and sorrel is much happier sown or planted at the gardener's discretion than pinned to a fixed window. Where you do grow it, seed germinates in 14-21 days and plants reach a pickable clump in around 60 days, sown 5 mm deep and spaced 30-50 cm apart with 30-45 cm between rows. In cool districts it is one of the most reliable perennial leaves you can keep.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

No sowing window in this zone.

Growing notes

Sorrel is worth having in any cool garden because it is one of the first fresh, tangy leaves of spring and shrugs off frost, but since Potting gives no scheduled window here, treat it as a flexible perennial you establish when conditions suit. Raise a few seedlings under cover in early spring, harden them off, and set them into a moist, part-shaded bed once the soil has warmed. Once in, a clump will crop for several years.

The main failure mode in cool zones is bolting and bitterness, where the plant rushes to flower in late spring or during a dry, warm spell and the leaves turn tough and sharp. The fix is to cut off flower stems as soon as they appear, which pushes the plant back into leaf, and to keep the soil steadily moist, since drought stress triggers early flowering.

Sorrel prefers a cool, damp position and tolerates part shade well, which makes it useful for spots where other leaves struggle in places like Hobart, Ballarat and Orange. Pick the youngest outer leaves regularly for the mildest, lemony flavour, and shear the whole clump to the ground in late winter to force a flush of tender new growth. Divide congested clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.

Sorrel at a glance

Common questions

Can you grow sorrel in cool climates like Hobart?

Yes, sorrel is a hardy perennial that thrives in cool, damp districts like Hobart and Ballarat and provides some of the earliest fresh leaves of spring. Potting does not list a fixed sowing window, so establish it when conditions suit and it will crop for years.

Why has my sorrel gone bitter and tough?

Bitterness and toughness usually mean the plant has bolted to flower, often triggered by dry, warm weather. Cut off the flower stems as soon as they appear and keep the soil moist, then pick the youngest outer leaves for the mildest flavour.

Does sorrel grow in shade?

Sorrel tolerates part shade well and actually prefers a cool, damp position, which makes it handy for spots where sun-loving leaves struggle. Full sun in a cool climate is fine too, provided you keep the soil steadily moist to prevent early bolting.

How do you keep sorrel productive year after year?

Shear the whole clump to the ground in late winter to force fresh spring growth, cut off flower stems through the season, and divide congested clumps every few years. Regular picking of the outer leaves also keeps tender new growth coming.

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