GrowSabzHow to grow sorrel in pots
Also called Garden Sorrel, Common Sorrel, Sour Grass, sourgrass · Rumex acetosa
سوریل
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 4–6hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 10–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 30–45days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 1 kgper 20 L pot
Sorrel is one of the fastest things you can grow — roughly 45 days from sowing to harvest. That makes it forgiving of mistakes, because a failed sowing costs you weeks rather than a season, and it's a good crop to slot between slower ones.
Short answer
Grow sorrel in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 10 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 30–45 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does sorrel need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Use pots with good drainage |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric breathes well, helps prevent root rot |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Ensure consistent moisture and good drainage |
| Raised bed | 15 L | 25 cm | Excellent for drainage and soil control |
Watering
How often should you water sorrel?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Drip irrigation or base watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- yellowing leaves
- bolting
Too much water
- yellow lower leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: water on leaves (can promote fungal issues); soggy soil.
Climate
Can you grow sorrel where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 10 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 10 °C — best at 18 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 4–8 hrs/day, best 6 |
| Frost | Low sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for sorrel? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Sorrel growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for sorrel
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why sorrel fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Sorrel wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Wetting the leaves
Overhead watering in the evening leaves foliage damp overnight, which is exactly the condition fungal disease needs. Water the soil, early in the day.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Mint
Mint is highly invasive and can quickly outcompete sorrel for nutrients and space if not contained.
Companions
What to plant with sorrel
Good neighbours
Sorrel is said to improve the flavor and vigor of strawberries, and they share similar soil preferences.
Sorrel can help deter cabbage worms and other pests that affect brassicas.
They have similar growing requirements and can be interplanted to maximize garden space. Sorrel can provide some shade for lettuce in hot weather.
Similar growing conditions and nutrient needs, making them good companions for a leafy green bed.
Keep apart from
Mint is highly invasive and can quickly outcompete sorrel for nutrients and space if not contained.
Fennel can inhibit the growth of many plants, including sorrel, due to chemicals released from its roots.
Both sorrel and rhubarb are high in oxalic acid and may compete for similar soil nutrients, potentially leading to deficiencies.
Problems
Sorrel pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. Can lead to sooty mold.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Chew irregular holes in leaves, especially tender young growth. More active in damp, cool conditions. Look for slime trails.
Leaf Spot humidity >80% · temp 18-28
Various fungal or bacterial diseases causing small, dark, often circular spots on leaves. Can lead to yellowing and defoliation.
Downy Mildew humidity >90% · temp 10-20
Yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface with fuzzy, grayish-purple growth on the underside. Thrives in cool, wet conditions.
Bolting humidity any · temp >28
Premature flowering and seed stalk development, often triggered by high temperatures, drought stress, or long daylight hours. Leaves become bitter.
Harvest
When to harvest sorrel
First picking falls between day 30 and day 45, and the plant then keeps producing for about 120 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Leaves are 4-6 inches long and tender
- Bright green color
How much to expect
Storing it: Wrap in damp paper towel and refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to a week.
Questions
Sorrel: common questions
How long does sorrel take to grow?
About 45 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 30 and day 45. It then keeps producing for roughly 120 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does sorrel need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 15 litres of soil and 25 cm of depth.
How often should I water sorrel?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does sorrel need?
It does best between 10 °C and 24 °C and survives from -5 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 10 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow sorrel in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when sorrel is ready to harvest?
Leaves are 4-6 inches long and tender; Bright green color. Once picked: wrap in damp paper towel and refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to a week.
How much does one sorrel plant produce?
Roughly 1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 2 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.