Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

Common or garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a herb that can be used as a salad leaf or cooked in the same way as spinach. Wild common sorrel grows in large swathes on the boundary banks around our garden and in a few places it overflows into perennial borders. Throughout Britain and most of Europe wild common sorrel can be found growing in hedges, woodland and pasture land where the ground is free from chemical weedkillers and fertilisers. It tends to grow more abundantly in areas where the soil is rich in iron, as it is where I live here in Wales. The leaves of sorrel are long stalked and dark ... more

Sorrel. ~~~~~~~ Rumex acetosa Common sorrel also known as spinach dock, Ambada bhaji 'Cuckoo's-meate' or in Scotland 'gowkemeat.' Is a native plant of England it is also common in a lot of Europe. Sorrel is not fussy about the soil it grows in; it thrives well in damp meadows where the soil is rich in iron. Eating / cooking with sorrel ~~~~~~~~~~ This plant is not normally grown as a crop or in the garden. There is only a small market for Sorrel. You can eat sorrel as a salad leaf, or you can cook it like spinach. I believe it’s a bitter, acid taste can taste like vinegar. R. scutatus (French ... more

Common Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) is otherwise known as Spinach dock. It is a close family member of the Dock plant. It grows best in rich soil which is well drained and loves either full sun or partial shade. Often found growing in meadows or fields, it is a welcom food source for much wildlife. Growing from spring to late autumn and lasting for around eight to ten years, sorrel is a welcome cheap addition to the garden. Around mid June to July the Sorrel will produce reddish green flowers. It is easily recognisable by its long, large arrow shaped leaves. It has a very sharp and yest zesty ... more