Sorrel
Rumex acetosa
Tangy, lemon-flavored perennial green used in soups and salads. Remove flower stalks to prolong leaf production.
Overview
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Strawberry
LettuceBad Companions
None
Toxicity
Contains soluble oxalates (calcium oxalate crystals); safe for humans in normal culinary amounts but can exacerbate kidney stones or rheumatism. Large quantities may cause vomiting, drooling, or kidney stress in pets.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Remove flower stalks promptly to prolong leaf harvest and prevent the plant from going to seed; divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor.
Common Pests
Aphids
Symptoms: Clusters of small green or black insects on undersides of leaves; sticky honeydew residue and curled or distorted foliage.
Treatment: Spray with a strong jet of water or apply insecticidal soap; introduce beneficial insects such as ladybugs.
Prevention: Encourage natural predators, avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, and inspect plants regularly.
Slugs and Snails
Symptoms: Irregular holes in leaves and silvery slime trails on and around the plant, especially noticeable in the morning.
Treatment: Hand-pick at dusk, use iron-phosphate-based slug pellets, or set beer traps near plants.
Prevention: Remove debris and mulch near stems, water in the morning so soil surface dries by evening, and use copper barriers.
Leaf Miners
Symptoms: Winding, pale tunnels or blotches within leaves where larvae feed between leaf surfaces.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly; apply neem oil if infestation is severe.
Prevention: Use floating row covers to exclude adult flies and practice crop rotation.
Common Diseases
Powdery Mildew
Symptoms: White, powdery coating on leaf surfaces that inhibits photosynthesis and stunts growth.
Treatment: Remove heavily infected leaves and apply a sulfur-based or potassium bicarbonate fungicide.
Prevention: Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants adequately and avoid overhead watering.
Rust
Symptoms: Orange or reddish-brown pustules on the undersides of leaves, leading to premature leaf drop.
Treatment: Remove and destroy infected foliage; apply an approved fungicide if the outbreak is severe.
Prevention: Practice crop rotation, avoid wetting foliage, and remove plant debris at the end of the season.
Leaf Spot
Symptoms: Dark brown or black circular spots on leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo, that may merge and kill leaf tissue.
Treatment: Remove affected leaves and apply a copper-based fungicide; improve drainage if soil stays waterlogged.
Prevention: Water at the base of plants, ensure adequate spacing for airflow, and rotate crops annually.