Sorrel
Sorrel: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Sorrel is a herbaceous perennial in the knotweed family, valued for its tangy leaves. The name covers several species of the genus Rumex. Common sorrel is Rumex acetosa, while red-veined sorrel belongs to Rumex sanguineus. Rumex patientia, also called patience dock, is another species in the same genus. These names refer to different plants, whose foliage, size and flavour should not be treated as identical.Common sorrel forms a clump of simple leaves on leaf stalks, with elongated blades and bases that are often arrow-shaped. The foliage creates a soft green presence close to the ground. Red-veined forms stand out through their contrasting vein pattern on green, more oblong leaves. Not every sorrel therefore has this colourful marking. Identifying the species gives more precise information than the common name alone, particularly when comparing plants with different appearances.The underground parts persist, allowing an established clump to resume growth from one season to…
