How to Grow Sorrel UK

When to Plant Sorrel in the UK

When to plant sorrel in the UK: in Southern England, sow early April to late June. Find your area in the table below.

Region	Sow
Southern England	early April to late June
Midlands	early April to late June
Northern England	early April to late June
Scotland	early April to late June

Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors in spring, or outdoors from mid-spring to early summer. A single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient; sorrel is a British native hardy across RHS zones H3-H7 and suitable for all areas of the UK.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors in spring, or outdoors from mid-spring to early summer. A single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient; sorrel is a British native hardy across RHS zones H3-H7 and suitable for all areas of the UK.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors in spring, or outdoors from mid-spring to early summer. A single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient; sorrel is a British native hardy across RHS zones H3-H7 and suitable for all areas of the UK.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors in spring, or outdoors from mid-spring to early summer. A single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient; sorrel is a British native hardy across RHS zones H3-H7 and suitable for all areas of the UK.

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil pH	5.5 - 6.8
Sunlight	3-3 hours direct sun
Germination temp	15°C
Soil texture	Fertile, moisture-retentive; tolerates most soil types
Drainage	Good drainage
Lifecycle	perennial
Edible parts	leaves

At a Glance

Soil & Growing Conditions

Soil pH range

5.5 6.8

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Sowing and germination	0	Sow indoors in spring or outdoors mid-spring to early summer, about 1cm deep, in fertile moisture-retentive soil in sun or partial shade; germination can take several weeks (RHS).
Thinning and establishment	1	Thin seedlings to 20-30cm apart and water regularly through dry spells until plants establish (RHS).
Leaf harvest	4	Pick young leaves from the first spring growth right through into autumn; frequent picking encourages tender new growth. Leaves can be ready within about 8 weeks of sowing (RHS).
Flower removal and clump maintenance	5	Snip out flower stems as they appear to keep leaf production going and prevent self-seeding; mulch each year in late winter or early spring, and divide congested clumps every four or five years (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Young sorrel leaves can be harvested from when new growth starts in spring right through into autumn. Regular picking produces tender leaves; older foliage becomes tough and bitter (RHS)

Storage

Best used fresh; remove seed stalks that emerge to keep plant productive (UMN)

Pests

Slugs

Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)

Snails

Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)

Aphids

Aphididae (various spp.)

Sorrel, the Sharp Lemony Perennial Leaf

One clump, years of picking

A single clump crops from early spring into autumn and needs dividing only every four or five years.

Arrow-shaped leaves

The distinctive arrow-shaped leaves carry a sharp, lemony tang from the oxalic acid in them.

Pick young, pick often

RHS: frequent picking of young leaves encourages a steady supply of tender new growth.

Snip out the flower stems

Removing flower stems as they appear keeps leaves coming and stops sorrel self-seeding.

Left to run to seed

Unchecked, plants throw up tall reddish flowering stems and leaf production tails off.

What the research guides add

Sorrel is a perennial leaf herb, and the Missouri Botanical Garden names the milder alternative that many cooks prefer.

• A perennial herb grown mainly for its leaves, which are used in salads and cooking; plants reach about 2 feet tall with basal clumps of 4 to 6 inch arrowhead-shaped leaves. (Missouri Botanical Garden)
• The leaves have a tangy, acidic, sour-lemony flavour and the youngest leaves have the best flavour. (Missouri Botanical Garden)
• It self-seeds and can spread in the garden. Many food experts prefer French sorrel (Rumex scutatus) for culinary purposes. (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Sources for this section

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Rumex acetosa (Plant Finder)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

References

1. GBIF - GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Rumex acetosa
2. Royal Horticultural Society - Aphids: Identification and Control

   RHS explicitly does not recommend pesticide use against aphids; recommends tolerance, manual squashing, and encouraging/purchasing natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, earwigs) as biological control, especially under glass.

3. Royal Horticultural Society - Slugs and Snails

   RHS explicitly advises against slug pellets (even organic) due to wildlife harm, and cites RHS's own controlled trial finding no damage reduction from physical barriers (copper tape, bark mulch, eggshell, grit, wool) -- while also noting some other studies have shown copper barriers to repel slugs, a preserved disagreement rather than a silently resolved one. Details Nemaslug (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita) biological control including application temperature range and its lack of effect on snails specifically.

4. Royal Horticultural Society - Sorrel | How to grow | RHS
5. University of Minnesota Extension - Growing sorrel in home gardens | UMN Extension

5 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.