Sheep Sorrel
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: No Name Given
Posted on: February 26, 2000

Please forward any information known to you about the cultivation of sheep sorrel. Spacing, soil requirements, how many seeds per ounce, germination rates, success in float trays, yield and demand for product.

Starting with the 2000 Richters herb catalogue, we are providing useful technical details on commercial cultivation of important crops. The information for sheep sorrel is in the ProGrower Info box on page 52 of the printed catalogue.

Below is information from the catalogue, with some added information.

Spacing: 30 cm by 30 cm. This depends on your weed control strategy. You may wish to sow in continuous rows, or you may wish to space the rows further apart to accommodate mechinacal cultivation.

Soil: Cool, moist, acidic. Can adapt to any well-drained soil, however.

Seeds per gram: 2,200 seeds per gram (62,000 per ounce).

Germination: Easy. Typical germination rates are 80% or higher.

Yield: We have no data.

Hydroponic cultivation: Should be readily adapted to hydroponic floating tray cultivation. Natural habitat (moist, acidic conditions) suggests that roots tolerate high moisture.

Market: Market volume and price are expected to be stable. Still a relatively small crop: about 400 hectares (1000 acres) world wide. It is one of the four Essiac formula herbs, and demand has grown significantly during the 1980s and 1990s.

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