When to Plant Sorrel in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Sorrel guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
Sorrel is a tough, low maintenance leafy perennial with a tangy lemon flavour. It is related to rhubarb. There are broad leaf green types, milder French types with shield shaped leaves, and red veined types.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Sorrel included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Sorrel in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Moist but well drained soil in a well prepared bed (The Seed Collection, My Productive Backyard).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full or part sun (The Seed Collection).
- Spacing
- 30cm apart
- Watering
- Keep moist. Regular watering and a liquid high nitrogen feed (My Productive Backyard).
- Good companions
- Strawberry, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Sorrel
Recommended Varieties
- Garden sorrel
- French sorrel
Key Challenges
- Winter dieback
- Snails
Pro Tips
- Sow in autumn or spring
- Divide every few years
Pests and problems for Sorrel in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Sorrel
When ready: Baby leaves are ready about 8 weeks after germination (My Productive Backyard). The Seed Collection gives 60 days to maturity.
How to harvest: Young leaves suit salads, and older leaves suit cooking. Pick more than you think you need, since leaves shrink a lot when cooked (My Productive Backyard).
Storing and preserving sorrel
How to keep it
- Use fresh. My Productive Backyard notes that leaves shrink a lot when cooked. Sorrel is high in oxalic acid like spinach and silver beet. Avoid cooking it in aluminium or iron cookware.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Sorrel
When do you plant sorrel in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
Can you grow sorrel all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Mar to May, Sep to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Sorrel in Melbourne?
Seed Collection cool chart: March to May and September to November. Hardy perennial. My Productive Backyard says it slows and dies back somewhat in very cold winters.
What soil temperature do Sorrel need?
Sorrel germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 22°C.
How do I know when Sorrel are ready to harvest?
Baby leaves are ready about 8 weeks after germination (My Productive Backyard). The Seed Collection gives 60 days to maturity.
What are the best Sorrel varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Garden sorrel, French sorrel.
What grows well with Sorrel?
Good companion plants for Sorrel include: Strawberry, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage.
Are sorrel salt tolerant?
Only a little. Sorrel are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.