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When to Plant Sorrel in Curry County, OR

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.

Curry County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 245 days.

At an elevation of 295 feet, Curry County receives approximately 53.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Sorrel during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Sorrel root diseases.

Curry County, OR (Zone 9a) Long season
245 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
245 growing days
First Fall Frost November 21

Curry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 4 – Jun 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – Jun 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 12

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Curry County

How your county's soil matches Sorrel's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.7) is within Sorrel's preferred range (5.5โ€“7.0).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Curry County is excellent for Sorrel โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.4%) โ€” Sorrel will thrive.

How to Plant Sorrel

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Sorrel

7
successive plantings in your 245-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 26.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 192 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Sorrel

Sorrel needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Sorrel Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 8.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 5.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.3" 8.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 7.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Curry County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Sorrel Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Sorrel needs ~950 GDD — county provides 4,655 GDD Excellent fit

Sorrel Planting Timeline โ€” Curry County, OR

Sorrel Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 21 Feb 21 โ€“ Mar 7
Transplant Outdoors March 14 Mar 14 โ€“ Mar 28
Direct Sow February 28 Feb 28 โ€“ Mar 21
Harvest April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ Jun 27
Fall Sowing September 26 Sep 26 โ€“ Oct 10

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October Fall Sowing
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

245 days in Curry County

Growing Tips for Sorrel in Curry County

Direct sow Sorrel outdoors after March 21 in Curry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 245.0-day season in Curry County allows multiple plantings of Sorrel. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sorrel in Curry County, OR?

Curry County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Sorrel planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Curry County, OR?

Curry County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Curry County gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Curry County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.