When to Plant Sorrel in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Sorrel guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Apr to Aug
- 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 Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- 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 Tropical 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 Tropical 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
Tropical Growing Tips for Sorrel
Recommended Varieties
- Garden sorrel
- French sorrel
Key Challenges
- Heat and humidity
- Wet season rot
Pro Tips
- Sow April to August
- Use shade
Pests and problems for Sorrel in Tropical
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 Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Apr to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Sorrel in Cairns?
The Seed Collection tropical chart gives April to August, the cool dry months. Sorrel is a cool season plant, so expect it to struggle in the wet and heat. Give it shade and moisture.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.