The Italian Gardener

Grown in every French garden and used to provide a sharp, lemony flavour to salads, cucumber soup or egg dishes, or made into a superb, bold green sauce to accompany fish, veal, pork or poultry. Sorrel is a vigorous plant and rich in vitamins A and C and is ideal for that unused corner of the garden where it will thrive throughout the year in moderate climates where it relishes full sun or part shade in moderately fertile soil. Plant seed in seed boxes or direct sow in the spring, and thin to 15cm centres when they reach 5 cm. Cut flower stalks at the base to promote new leaves. It may be propagated by seed in the spring, or root division in the autumn. This variety is Rumex acetosa or broad-leaved sorrel.