Blood Sorrel: Location, Hardiness & Use

With its red leaf veins and mildly sour taste, the sorrel is an asset to any garden.

The blood dock (Rumex sanguineus) stands out from its relatives primarily because of its leaf coloration sorrel (Rumex acetosa) away. You can find out how to use it in the kitchen and what a suitable location looks like here.

Sorrel: flower, properties and origin

The blood sorrel is a close relative of the sorrel and also belongs to the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). It occurs naturally in Western and Central Europe and prefers moist locations. Where the sorrel grows, especially in river meadows or moist deciduous forests, it indicates waterlogged soil. But it is also becoming increasingly popular as a garden plant. Blood sorrel can be used in the kitchen and is extremely decorative. The leaves are oblong-ovate and have red veins that contrast with the green leaf blade. The blood sorrel flowers are similar to those of the sorrel, are small and inconspicuous and bloom in a reddish hue from June to August. The blood dock is perennial. The perennial plant, also known as grove dock or blood sorrel, sprout every year from a long and deep-reaching root. In contrast to the closely related sorrel, the blood sorrel hardly tastes sour, but has a much milder taste.

Planting blood sorrel: location and sowing

Choose a location for the sorrel that is shady or partially shaded. The soil should be nutrient-rich, humic, slightly acidic and moist. With sufficient soil moisture, the blood dock can also grow in a sunny place.

Planting in a deep pot or bucket is also possible, provided the container offers enough space for the roots. Although the sorrel loves moisture, the pot should still have a drainage hole to prevent root rot. To keep the sorrel in the pot, it is best to use nutrient-rich and slightly acidic soil, such as ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil. Our peat-free soil contains all the important nutrients and ensures a rich harvest. It can be used both in beds and in pots. Put the young plant in the ground and press the substrate firmly. Water the sorrel well after planting.

Sorrel seeds can be grown on the windowsill from the beginning of the year. In April, the small plants can be planted in the bed or sown directly outdoors. It is advisable to sow the sorrel in batches between March and June. That means sowing a portion of seed about every two weeks - if you sow in sets like this, you can harvest fresh blood dock all year round. The first seedlings appear after just two weeks. If you are planting young sorrel, a light start-up fertilization can support growth. It is best to use a long-term fertilizer, such as ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer, which you simply work lightly into the soil. It provides the blood dock with nutrients over a long period of time and is harmless for pets and garden animals. Compost is also ideal for starter fertilization. When planting, keep a distance of about 25 cm between each plant.

Sorrel as an aquatic plant: The blood sorrel is not an aquatic plant, so it cannot be kept in a pond. However, due to the soil moisture, the bank of the pond is ideally suited and is the first choice when looking for a location for the sorrel.

The right blood dock care

The blood sorrel care is just as uncomplicated as the care of the closely related sorrel. Since the blood sorrel appreciates high soil moisture, it should be watered regularly. It is best to use lime-free water for this. Especially in midsummer, or when the rain is a long time coming, you should reach for the watering can. Additional nutrients are usually not necessary after planting. However, if you find that growth is stagnating, it can help to fertilize the blood dock. Here, for example, ours is suitable Plantura organic universal fertilizer, which supplies many plants with all the important nutrients for three months. However, fertilization should only be done during the growing season, since the blood dock no longer needs any new nutrients in autumn and winter.

Tip: If the sorrel is pruned regularly, it can be harvested all year round.

propagation

Both the division and the sowing are ideal for multiplying the sorrel. However, the blood dock usually multiplies all by itself.

For the division, a sufficiently large blood dock must be dug out of the ground. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the roots. The root ball consists of many taproots and can be carefully divided with the hands. You can now plant the individual plants separately.

In addition to self-sowing, the blood dock can be propagated by collecting and sowing the seed. If the fruits have formed after flowering, they are harvested after maturity and the seeds removed. In spring, the seeds can then be grown on the windowsill or sown directly in April. Because blood dock a light germinator is, the seeds should only be lightly covered with soil to allow them to germinate.

Is blood dock hardy?

The blood dock is hardy and can withstand temperatures down to – 20 °C. In Germany, he rarely has problems surviving the cold season. Potted plants do not tolerate such low temperatures as well, as the soil quickly freezes completely due to the small volume. You should therefore place blood sorrel in a pot in a protected place on the wall of the house to be on the safe side. In addition, the pot can be wrapped in jute and placed on a block of wood or other heat insulation.

Fighting blood sorrel: how to get rid of him?

Sorrel goes well in salads and is a real eye-catcher in the garden thanks to its red-green leaves. However, it can also spread quickly through self-sowing and is not welcome in every garden. If you want to get rid of the sorrel despite its advantages, the only option is to generously dig up the propagating plant. In order to contain the further spread, the inflorescences of the plants should first be removed. So it does not come to seed formation and therefore not to self-seeding. In order to completely remove the blood sorrel, all existing plants must be dug up. The entire root system should be taken into account if possible.

Harvesting and use of blood dock

Sorrel can actually be harvested all year round, but the leaves contain oxalic acid. If this is ingested in large quantities, the absorption of iron in the body can be inhibited. The oxalic acid content increases with the age of the leaves. Old leaves in mid or late summer should therefore no longer be eaten. The young and fresh leaves taste best. With its slightly sour and mild taste, sorrel refines salads. Unlike sorrel, it should not be boiled or steamed.

Is blood dock poisonous?

Blood dock should not be consumed regularly in large quantities because of the oxalic acid it contains, and the older leaves are also less digestible. Sorrel is even poisonous to cats and dogs.

Blood and sorrel are not the only things that make a great salad. Also many local wild herbs, such as the buckhorn, can be used in the kitchen.