The Red Veined Sorrel is also called Blood Sorrel and it’s easy to understand why. This beautiful microgreen with its bright-green leaves and vivid red stems adds color and a tangy flavor to any dish.
What Are Red Veined Sorrel Microgreens?
The Red Veined Sorrel microgreen is the mini sprouting version of the elegant fully grown one. This nutritious microgreen is filled with vitamins and minerals with powerful antioxidant properties.
While it’s slower to sprout and has a long growing period, up to 30 days, it’s totally worth the wait. You won’t be disappointed by this microgreen with its unique flavor.
With its bright lemon flavor and distinctive red veins, it’s not only a tasty one but it is as well an elegant garnish.
| Growing period | 17-28 days |
| Flavor | Sharp, tangy citrus flavor |
| Growing difficulty | Medium |
| Buy seeds | Red Veined Sorrel seeds from True Leaf Market |
Description
The sorrel is a common plant grown as a garden herb or salad vegetable. It’s a perennial herb in the family Polygonaceae and its origin seems unknown. It occurs throughout Europe and in parts of central Asia. It has been introduced to the US and is especially common in Ohio.
As a microgreen, it’s easy to grow though it takes a bit longer than many other ones.
General Nutrition & Benefits
The Red Vein Sorrel is packed with vitamins C, B and high in minerals. Throughout history, it has been used not only for culinary purposes but also as medicinal.
According to OSU, the Red sorrel has been used medicinally to treat boils and skin disorders as well as sore throats. Native Americans used it as an antidote for poison.
How to Grow Red Vein Sorrel Microgreens
The Red Vein Sorrel are slow-growing microgreens compared to many other varieties. They can be grown using different methods but preferable is to use soil or coconut coir.
| Growing timeline (estimated) | |
| Presoak | No soak |
| Preferred medium | Soil/coconut coir |
| Avg. seed weight (10/20 tray) | 3 grams |
| Germination period (blackout) | Day 1-10 |
| Growth time (sunlight) | Day 11-16 |
| Harvest | Day 17-28 |
The simplest way to do this is by filling shallow trays with soil or coconut coir, then sprinkling the seeds on top. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of additional soil or coconut coir on top. Pat down firmly. This will help the germination process.
The grow-out time for this microgreen can vary from 2-5 weeks depending on variety, leaf type, and growing conditions. Fast-growing varieties are typically ready for harvest in 10-15 days while slow-growing varieties are ready in 17-28 days.
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You can store your microgreens in the refrigerator in a resealable bag or container. How long they will last will depend on the type of plant they are. The Red Veined Sorrel will stay fresh for one to two weeks. The leaves can even be frozen or dried and used as an herb; though some flavor will be lost.
Culinary guiding
This microgreen with its tangy flavor serves very well to fish. It also goes well with veal, eggs, and potatoes, and even in soup. To add some color to your salad, mix in some of your sorrel leaves and get a citrusy taste.
