Dock or Sorrel
Rumex acetosa • Polygonaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Herb
🌍 Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia, widely naturalized globally
📅 Days to Maturity
Ready for first harvest in 55-60 days from direct sowing, or 45-50 days from transplants. Leaves can be harvested continuously throughout the growing season by picking outer leaves. Succession planting is generally unnecessary due to perennial habit.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. Tolerates winter temperatures down to -40°F (-40°C). Acts as a hardy perennial in temperate zones.
About This Seed
The seeds are small, glossy, dark brown to reddish-brown, three-sided (triangular/achene), and enclosed in dry papery perianth segments. The resulting plant is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant growing up to 60-120 cm tall, featuring rosette-forming, lance-shaped or hastate (arrowhead-shaped) fleshy leaves with a distinctly tart, acidic flavor, and producing tall panicles of reddish-green flowers.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring and Fall; can be direct sown as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring or started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Low frost tolerance for young seedlings, but mature plants tolerate cold well.
Germination
Germinates in 7-14 days at optimal soil temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (15°C to 21°C). High germination rate (around 70-85%). Light aids germination slightly, so seeds should be only very lightly covered or pressed into the soil surface. No special pre-treatment or scarification is required.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep, spaced about 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 8-12 inches apart once established. Prefers rich, moist, well-draining loamy soils with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. Incorporating organic compost prior to planting is recommended.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Needs consistent moisture and watering to prevent leaves from becoming tough and overly bitter, though established plants have moderate drought tolerance. Prefers moderate humidity.
Companion Plants
Grows well near strawberries, brassicas, and lettuce. Avoid planting near shade-loving ornamentals that compete heavily for soil nutrients. No strong negative allelopathic properties, but forms a dense taproot system.
Special Characteristics
Extremely cold-hardy, highly resilient, deer resistant, and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. The leaves are rich in vitamins A and C and oxalic acid, giving them a sharp, lemony tang popular in culinary dishes and soups.