Sorrel microgreens make an excellent addition to salad mixes and pair well with robust dressings, while they add an interesting, tart bite to soups and stews.
These seeds need 35-40 days to sprout and display their first true leaves, marking when they’re ready to harvest.
As your plants develop, mist them with water periodically during the growing stage to avoid overwatering and risk of root rot.
Soil
Sorrel microgreens make delicate yet delicious additions to a salad bowl, adding fresh citrus notes with their lemony tart. Sorrel microgreens also boast many essential nutrients like vitamins A and C, iron, potassium calcium magnesium. Cultivation sorrel microgreens is fairly straightforward and they can be harvested year round!
Soil quality is of utmost importance for any microgreen crop, including sorrel greens. Most varieties require well-draining soil conditions; however, sorrel greens tend to thrive under damper environments than their counterparts and so can often be grown in containers.
Sorrel microgreens grow best in soil that drains quickly and provides ample nutrient richness, such as potting mix. Other types of soil may also work but the key factor should be finding one with good drainage capabilities and with nutrient-rich content for rapid development.
Provide sorrel microgreens with consistent temperatures and enough light for optimal growth and flavor development. A humid environment will aid the seeds’ germination faster.
Before sowing sorrel seeds, it’s advisable to pre-soak them for several days prior to sowing. Although this step is not essential when growing microgreens, pre-soaking helps the seeds germinate more quickly and reduces chances of rot.
Sorrel greens are most flavorful when harvested early with kitchen shears; simply cut the plants just above soil level with this method, leaving their leaves for consumption raw or to be added into dishes; you may also wish to dry these leaves out in the sun for later use; mature sorrel greens may be cooked; just be sure to wash off any dirt particles prior to using.
Light
Sorrel microgreens make an enjoyable and nutritious addition to your diet, packed with potassium (an electrolyte that balances fluid levels in the body) and vitamin C (which strengthens immune systems and reduces inflammation). Furthermore, these greens also contain proteins, fiber, iron, calcium and magnesium for added nourishment.
Sour greens offer a refreshing lemony taste that pairs beautifully with many dishes, from fish and seafood to eggs, potatoes and soups. Their leaves also make an eye-catching garnish for desserts!
Starting your sorrel microgreens from seed requires starting with a clean tray or shallow container filled with organic potting soil. Plastic containers used for fruit takeout or aluminum pie pans work great – be sure to poke holes in each bottom for drainage purposes and fill your container up to three inches with soil before misting until all seeds are moistened evenly.
Because sorrel is a taproot plant, it’s essential that its growing medium remains moisture-rich. You should check on it frequently to make sure it remains slightly damp to touch without becoming waterlogged; sorrel can tolerate various soil conditions including an acidic environment; however it cannot survive under dry soil conditions.
Soaking seeds prior to planting is recommended but not mandatory, as it may help soften a hard seed coat and dissolve chemical inhibitors that inhibit germination. Soaking may also increase the rate at which they germinate; so for maximum results choose microgreen-specific seeds with high germination rates that produce dense growth.
Water
Sorrel microgreens require constant moisture for healthy growth. Harvest time typically occurs 1-2 weeks prior to their full size seedlings emerging. It is key that soil remains moist but not overwatered, preventing root rot while keeping seeds secure in their containers and keeping root temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soak the seeds for several hours in a small container of water before sowing them in your growing medium. Soaking helps loosen their coating, enabling proper sprouting. After sowing, mist regularly using a spray bottle until all seeds have become damp but light covered – don’t oversaturate, as that will dislodge and decrease germination rates!
Red-veined sorrel offers an irresistibly flavorful combination of spicy and tart that pairs perfectly with fish, veal, eggs, potatoes and even salads and soups. It makes an exceptional garnish!
This perennial is typically grown as a leafy green in a kitchen garden and one of the first plants to come up as winter recedes and spring arrives. This hardy herb can withstand cool temperatures, frost and partial shade conditions; additionally it will return year after year in your garden!
Sorrel requires organic fertilizer in order to thrive and it should be provided every other week from your greenhouse or gardening store. An inch of water should be applied every week; mulching your soil is also advised as this helps retain moisture levels in your plant’s root zone and keeps moisture locked inside its root system.
Fertilization
Sorrel microgreens take more attention and effort to germinate and develop than most microgreens; seeds should be misted gently with water until they germinate and begin producing leaves, usually about two weeks post sowing. Once sorrel sprouts, more regular watering may be necessary; but do not overwater or your seeds may rot!
As soon as weeds begin to emerge, they should be eliminated quickly in order to ensure sorrel doesn’t compete for resources with them. Sorrel typically does not need additional fertilizer if its soil was fertilized prior to sowing; however, if microgreens are struggling and need assistance recovering and flourishing a light application of general purpose fertilizer may help them recover and thrive.
Aquaponics systems offer another effective method for cultivating sorrel. These systems utilize fish species like tilapia, bluegill or catfish as essential part of creating an ideal growing environment for sorrel plants. When selecting fish for your aquaponics setup it is essential that only those appropriate are chosen; not all types are compatible.
Sorrel can be planted using aquaponics systems in 1020 trays or similar containers filled with high-quality potting mix, spaced roughly half an inch apart, then placed in indirect sunlight to germinate. Water misting keeps the seeds moist until they germinate, then the tray should remain damp until sorrel greens grow two or three inches tall before they need to be thinned by using either herb snips or hand. Thinners may then be eaten or replanted.
Harvest
Red veined sorrel microgreens add a vibrant splash of color and flavor to soups, sandwiches and green salads. Enjoy them raw or cooked; these lush greens can be eaten raw or cooked and come packed with citrusy, lemony flavor as well as striking crimson veins accentuating their leaves for a stunning garnish. Harvest these beauties when they reach 2-3 inches tall so you get only tender and flavorful microgreens at their most tender and flavorful. Since this delicate green contains high levels of oxalates it is recommended only eating small amounts at one time to limit over prolonged exposure of this delicate substance.
Start growing sorrel microgreens by filling a growing tray with soil or coconut coir, spreading a thin layer of seeds over its surface, then patting them gently into the soil. After that, cover them with more soil or coconut coir and pat lightly to pack down further. Water should also be sprinkled onto them to ensure adequate moistening; just don’t soak them – this could result in root rot.
Once your seeds have been planted, place the trays in an environment with indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours each day and an average temperature between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. After some days have passed, sorrel microgreens should begin sprouting and producing their first true leaves – at which point you need to closely monitor their progress until harvest time arrives.
Harvest your sorrel microgreens using sharp kitchen shears by cutting from the base of their stem. Be careful when handling, as sorrel microgreens can easily become fragile and bruised if handled too often. Store in your refrigerator in either a plastic bag or bowl with loose lid until you are ready to use them.
How to grow Sorrel Microgreens!
