Growing Sorrel in Australia: The Complete Guide
Sorrel is an easy leafy green to grow, needing full–part sun with regular watering.
We get asked about sorrel often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
A tangy, low-maintenance perennial
A lemony, sharp-tasting perennial green that comes back reliably each year with minimal input — a useful, unusual addition to salads once established.
Getting Sorrel Into the Ground
Method — direct sow or divide an established clump. Soil — rich, moisture-retentive. Timing — plant in spring or autumn.
Keeping It Growing Well
The key things to get right:
- Remove flower stalks promptly to keep leaf production going.
- Water regularly — leaves toughen and turn bitter under drought stress.
- Divide clumps every few years to renew vigour.
- Harvest outer leaves continuously.
What Can Go Wrong
A few things matter most here:
- Leaf miner — pale tunnels; remove affected leaves.
- Rust — orange spotting; improve airflow.
- Bolting — remove flower stalks promptly.
- Few other issues — a generally trouble-free perennial.
When and How to Harvest
Signs — leaves reach usable size, harvested continuously through the growing season. Method — snip outer leaves, leaving the centre to keep producing. Curing — none needed. Storage — fridge, a few days.
That's the full picture behind sorrel. The printable A4 version of this guide — with the quick-reference gauges and diagram in one page — is available on the main guide page below.