Sorrel is an unpretentious plant, it does not require much effort and time. Therefore, growing this good addition to soups and salads in your garden is definitely worth it. Sorrel grows well even on poor soils. However, for best results, the soil must be properly prepared.
However, before you start planting, you should decide on the choice of variety. Spinach varieties are considered the most suitable for growing in a summer cottage. This, for example, may be the Nikolsky or Andreevsky variety. Such a sorrel, the cultivation of which in this case is more rational, will be larger with elliptical leaves. In addition, this variety is tastier because it is not as sour as regular sorrel.
It is best to dig up the bed in the fall and add some organic fertilizer to it in the amount of five kilograms per square meter. You can also add potassium s alt and superphosphate to the composition (20 g of both). In the spring, the bed will need to be loosened and 20 g of ammonium sulfate per meter should be added. Sorrel,the cultivation of which is carried out in several stages, sown in early spring, in the middle of the season and in late autumn. In the latter case, you need to plant the seeds in such a way that they do not have time to germinate before the onset of cold weather. With the winter planting method, the first harvest can be obtained in early May. Sorrel sown in spring begins to be cut at the end of June, and planted in mid-summer - in September.
Sorrel, the most commonly grown from seeds, prefers sunny areas. However, he also feels good in partial shade. It also grows well in acidic soils. They plant it in rows. The distance between rows is 20 cm, between lines is 40. It is best to use this method. The fact is that after four years of cultivation, sorrel leaves begin to shrink. Therefore, new plants are planted between the lines, and the old ones are removed.
Seeds are buried in the soil to a depth of 3 cm. If the soil is heavy - 0.5 cm. Sorrel sprouts on the tenth day after planting. As soon as the first leaf appears on the plants, they are thinned out so that the distance between them is 5 cm. Sorrel, the cultivation of which is not particularly difficult, does not require top dressing during the season. But this is only if a sufficient amount of organic matter was introduced into the soil before planting. On unfertilized beds, it is worth using fertilizing containing nitrogen. What can not be done is to apply phosphate fertilizers under the plants. Because of this, sorrel begins to bloom.
Another feature of this plantis that it requires periodic loosening of the soil in which it is planted. Sorrel, the cultivation of which involves moderate watering, needs to be loosened after each soil moisture. In early summer, the leaves can be cut off completely - the plant immediately releases new ones. You can harvest this way every two weeks. However, after the third cut, the sorrel will only be suitable for canning. In August, part of the leaves in the bushes must be left. Otherwise, the plant will leave weakened before winter.
Sorrel, the cultivation and care of which does not require much labor, is also propagated by forcing. To do this, take a piece from the rhizome, the length of which is at least 50 cm. The most suitable plants are four-year-olds. The roots are buried in the ground to a depth of 18 cm.
Thus, observing agricultural practices, you can grow an excellent crop of sorrel. It will not take much time, and the diet can be diversified with delicious leaves, which contain a huge amount of vitamins.
