Sorrel, Broad - Rumex acetosa
250 Seeds
Sow March - May
Hardy perennial.
Height 60-120cm (2-4ft), spread 30cm (1ft).
Prefers a rich acid, well-drained soil in a sunny position.
Sow seeds underglass 0.5cm (¼") deep, in small trays of compost and lightly cover the seeds with a sprinkling of compost , and place at a temperature of 15C .
Prick out seedlings individually to 7cm (3") pots, once large enough to handle. Grow on in cooler conditions , then gradually harden off plants in a cold frame before planting out after risk of frost has passed. Transplant to final positions 30cm (12in) apart or into larger containers . Cut the leaves, as required, a few from each plant so that they will regrow quickly.
The many small, greenish yellow or reddish flowers appear during the summer, remove them to ensure continuous supply of young leaves, which are lance-shaped, mid-green with a broad base. The stems are juicy, ridged and reddish.
Sorrel - Broad
Also known as Bread & Cheese, Sour Leaves, Tom Thumbs, A Thousand Fingers and Sour Sauce.
From the family Polygonaceae.
Sorrel is a native plant of Europe, Asia and North America. The generic name, rumex, comes from the Latin rumo 'I suck'. The name Sorrel comes from the old French word 'surelle' meaning sour. Sorrel rising above grass on as acid soil can cause a hay meadow to assume a reddish tint as harvest time. On a hot summers day, haymakers would frequently eat the succulent leaves to quench their thirst.