leafy · direct sow
Sorrel: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating sorrel a few times a week needs about 14 plants in ~21 sq ft, worth about $168 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 4 | ~6 sq ft | ~8 | ~$48 |
| 2 people | 7 | ~11 sq ft | ~14 | ~$84 |
| 4 people | 14 | ~21 sq ft | ~28 | ~$168 |
| 6 people | 20 | ~30 sq ft | ~40 | ~$240 |
Spacing
12" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
55 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 24 – May 5 | Jul 2 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 19 – Apr 30 | Jul 12 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 9 – Apr 20 | Jul 22 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 27 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 12 – Mar 26 | Aug 11 – Sep 25 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 1 – Mar 15 | Sep 1 – Oct 16 |
| Zone 9 | Dec 30 – Feb 10 | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 10 – Jan 21 | Oct 1 – Nov 15 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Young leaves 3 to 5 inches for the bright lemon tang, the smaller, the milder.
Don't wait: Big old leaves get tough and harshly sour; keep cutting to force new growth.
Yield
About 3 lbs per plant over ~10 productive weeks (~3 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Aphids · Slugs & snails · Cutworms, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Sorrel planting questions
How many sorrel plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 4 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 14 plants, which takes around 21 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does sorrel need?+
Space plants 12" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant sorrel?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing sorrel worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~3 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $168 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.