Rumex acetosa Large de Belleville - Vilmorin Seeds

The 'Large de Belleville' Sorrel is a very productive variety of Sorrel, standing at 30cm (12in) tall and distinguished by its light green foliage. When raw, Sorrel adds a tangy note to mixed salads, but it can also be cooked to flavour sauces and fish. It is a perennial vegetable plant that can be sown from March to May for a harvest from May to August.

Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa, is a perennial vegetable plant native to Europe and Asia. It belongs to the Polygonaceae family and naturally thrives in cool, rather heavy, and acidic soil. It is a plant with aromatic leaves, rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which can be prepared and cooked like spinach. When cooked, it adds a slight tang to fish, pies, and soups. Its young and tender leaves can be consumed raw in salads.

Harvest: Sorrel is a perennial plant that can remain in place for several years. It can be harvested as needed, either in its juvenile stage or when fully ripe. The harvest is done leaf by leaf, by hand or with a knife.

Storage: Sorrel should be consumed immediately after harvest as it does not keep well. However, it freezes very well once cooked.

Gardener's tip: To reduce the need for watering, we recommend mulching the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves, starting from late May. This protective layer helps keep the soil moist and also reduces weed growth.