Sorrel Planting Guide

May

sorrel this May — what to know

Everything below applies to sorrel broadly. For a plan that's dialled into your county's frost dates and soil, tap your location.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 40–60

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water sorrel
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for sorrel. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put sorrel
sorrel wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant sorrel. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me sorrel timing for my zone →

Sorrel is a perennial herb with tangy, lemon-flavored arrow-shaped leaves. It is one of the first greens to emerge in spring and is used in soups and salads.

Rumex acetosa · Herb · Polygonaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Sorrel Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Sorrel?

Zone Compatibility for Sorrel Zones 3a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 8	Jun 19 – Aug 21
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 3	Jun 14 – Aug 16
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	Apr 29	Jun 10 – Aug 12
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	Apr 24	Jun 5 – Aug 7
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 18	May 30 – Aug 1
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 11	May 23 – Jul 25
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 3	May 15 – Jul 17
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Mar 27	May 8 – Jul 10
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 18	Apr 29 – Jul 1
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 11	Apr 22 – Jun 24
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 1	Apr 12 – Jun 14
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 18	Apr 1 – Jun 3
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 3	Mar 17 – May 19
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 18	Mar 1 – May 3

How to Plant Sorrel

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Polygonaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Polygonaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Sorrel

Sorrel matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Sorrel

✅ Good Companions

Strawberries Lettuce Spinach

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Sorrel

Direct sow in early spring or fall. Remove flower stalks promptly to encourage leaf production. Divide clumps every 3-4 years. Young leaves have the best flavor.

Saving Sorrel Seeds

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Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

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Sorrel by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Sorrel?

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Sorrel grow in?

Sorrel can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Sorrel need?

Growing Sorrel requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.