When to plant Sorrel in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Raise sorrel seedlings from February to May in autumn or September to November in spring, sowing seed about 5 mm deep before transplanting out. Germination takes 14-21 days, and leaves are ready to pick in around 60 days. Space plants 30-50 cm apart with 30-45 cm between rows in a sunny to lightly shaded, moisture-retentive bed. This hardy perennial herb delivers sharp, lemony leaves for years from a single planting, and it holds up well through mild temperate winters in gardens around Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: February to May and September to November.
Growing notes
Sorrel is a tough, long-lived perennial grown for its tangy, lemon-sharp leaves, which lift salads, soups and sauces. It is one of the easiest greens to keep going, tolerating cold, part shade and neglect, but it does best with steady moisture and reasonably fertile soil that keeps the leaves tender rather than tough.
The main thing that goes wrong is bolting in summer. As the days lengthen and heat, sorrel throws up tall reddish flower stems, leaf growth slows, and the remaining leaves toughen. The fix is to cut the flower stems out at the base as they appear, which pushes the plant back into fresh leaf, and to give it a little afternoon shade and extra water through hot spells in warmer districts such as inland Adelaide.
Harvest by picking the outer leaves regularly, which keeps young, mild growth coming from the centre. Snails and slugs are fond of the tender leaves, so protect young plants. Every two or three years, lift and divide congested clumps in autumn or early spring to keep them productive. Because it is perennial and can spread by seed, cut off flower heads before they set if you want to keep it contained. Otherwise sorrel quietly supplies sharp greens across most of the year.
Sorrel at a glance
| Sowing depth | 5 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 30-50 cm |
| Row spacing | 30-45 cm |
| Germination | 14-21 days |
| Days to maturity | 60 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Plant Seedlings |
Common questions
- Is sorrel a perennial?
- Yes, sorrel is a hardy perennial that crops for years from a single planting and holds through mild temperate winters. Divide congested clumps every two or three years to keep them vigorous.
- Why has my sorrel gone tough and bitter?
- This usually happens when the plant bolts to flower in summer heat. Cut the flower stems out at the base, keep the soil moist, and give a little afternoon shade to bring fresh, tender leaves back.
- How do I harvest sorrel?
- Pick the outer leaves regularly, taking them young for the mildest, most lemony flavour. Frequent picking encourages a steady supply of tender new growth from the centre of the plant.
- Can I grow sorrel in Melbourne over winter?
- Yes. Sorrel is hardy and keeps producing through Melbourne's mild temperate winter, slowing only in the coldest weeks. It is one of the most reliable perennial greens for the cool season.
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