Its arrow-shaped leaves were a familiar sight in Medieval vegetable gardens across Europe until the 1700s, and it has since become a common wild herb in North America where it was introduced as a salad green. Common Sorrel seeds are usually easy to germinate and the seedlings, which are quick to develop, can be pricked out and grown on, for planting out later in the year. As we have already discussed, Sorrel in all its forms has been used to quench thirst and as a digestive.

Rumex acetosa|common sorrel/RHS Gardening Rumex acetosa|common sorrel/RHS Gardening

Ideally choose a growing site with rich, fertile soil, although sorrel will tolerate almost any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. This will help to stop the plant from running to seed which makes the plant taste too bitter to eat.something akin to camomile (ditto), grasses, cob nuts, chestnuts and of course blackberries and elderberries from the hedgerows and apples, peaches, raspberries, etc. The flowers are not especially attractive, so this plant is one that can be planted behind or amongst other vigorous crops. Every few years, plants should be divided in spring or autumn to rejuvenate them and ensure they keep producing good foliage.

Sorrel, Common Sorrel and types of Edible UK Sorrels Wild Sorrel, Common Sorrel and types of Edible UK Sorrels

Aphids and slugs will likely be your main issues, but there are plenty of organic methods out there to control both of these. Sorrel in a container needs regular watering throughout the growing season, as the compost will dry out quickly, especially in summer. The many types of Wild Sorrel including the more commonly known (and foraged) Common Sorrel, Sheep's Sorrel and Wood Sorrel. Common sorrel is popular in salads, soups, and sauces, enhancing the overall taste with its subtle acidity. Young sorrel leaves are softer and tangier, whereas older, larger leaves are better for cooking and less flavourful.We also ate something akin to liverwort (I don’t know its name but I know what it looks and tastes like!

Sorrel Red Veined Seeds | Quality Seeds from Sow Seeds Ltd Herb Sorrel Red Veined Seeds | Quality Seeds from Sow Seeds Ltd

Many varieties of sorrel contain oxalic acid, which can be poisonous if eaten regularly and in quantity, so don’t eat them every day. All the sorrels contain oxalic acid and should be avoided by people prone to kidney stones but with most of these things the amount of oxalic acid is tiny and oxalic acid can be found in spinach, cabbage, rhubarb, beans, coffee and chocolate, none of which has a health warning about the oxalic acid content. Romans used to eat Sorrel leaves as a digestive after overeating and on long hot marches they also used to suck the leaves to take the edge off their thirst.The plants are all from the Oxalis family and include Yellow Sorrel, Yellow Creeping Sorrel, Pink Sorrel (another type of Pink Sorrel) and Pink Shamrock Sorrel. If sorrel is allowed to flower and scatter its seeds, you will usually get plenty of young seedlings appearing nearby. In the wild, Common Sorrel plays host to the Small Copper as a breeding butterfly, which will lay its eggs on the plant. There are many types and all are good looking ornamental plants but, they have become invasive and if you have them in your garden you will know how difficult they are to get rid of.

How to grow Sorrel | Love The Garden

Being an easy perennial to grow and care for, sorrel really does tick all of the boxes when it comes to useful edible plants to have in the garden. Common or broad-leaved sorrel, Rumex acetosaPlant in sun or light shade, in containers or in the ground. Choose leaves which have an even shade of green, and that aren’t showing any signs of yellowing or crispy brown areas.Used with care, glyphosate is safe to use around the base of non-suckering woody plants, as long as the bark is woody, brown and mature. This means that you will be able to move it outdoors once the temperatures rise, which will help to extend your growing period.