{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "record_type": "plant",
  "slug": "sorrel",
  "botanical_name": "Rumex acetosa",
  "categories": [
    "culinary herb",
    "leaf vegetable",
    "perennial crop"
  ],
  "common_name": "Sorrel",
  "difficulty": "Easy",
  "family": "Polygonaceae",
  "growth_habits": [
    "clump-forming",
    "self-seeding"
  ],
  "lifecycle": "Herbaceous perennial",
  "requirements": {
    "container": {
      "minimum_diameter_cm": 30,
      "minimum_volume_litres": 15,
      "plants_per_container": 1
    },
    "harvest": {
      "typical_uk_months": [
        "April",
        "October"
      ]
    },
    "light": {
      "minimum_direct_sun_hours": 4,
      "preferred_direct_sun_hours": 6
    },
    "planting_out": {
      "frost_tolerant": true,
      "label": "Establish young plants",
      "minimum_reliable_temperature_c": 10,
      "note": "Conservative spring planning target, not a hardiness limit; acclimatise indoor seedlings"
    },
    "soil_ph": {
      "maximum": 7.0,
      "minimum": 6.0
    },
    "spacing": {
      "maximum_cm": 45,
      "minimum_cm": 30
    }
  },
  "summary": "Common sorrel is a hardy perennial herb grown for tangy young leaves, with repeated picking, flower removal and occasional division keeping the clump useful.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "rhs-growing-sorrel",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/sorrel/grow-your-own",
      "supports": [
        "types",
        "sowing",
        "containers",
        "division",
        "harvest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rhs-rumex-acetosa",
      "publisher": "Royal Horticultural Society",
      "url": "https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/41751/rumex-acetosa/details",
      "supports": [
        "identity",
        "family",
        "soil_preference",
        "pests",
        "self_seeding"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "umn-growing-sorrel",
      "publisher": "University of Minnesota Extension",
      "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-minnesota/growing-sorrel",
      "supports": [
        "spacing",
        "soil",
        "watering",
        "harvest"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "ucanr-growing-herbs",
      "publisher": "UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County",
      "url": "https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-sacramento-county/grow-herbs",
      "supports": [
        "containers",
        "problems",
        "culinary_use"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "kew-common-sorrel",
      "publisher": "Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew",
      "url": "https://growwild.kew.org/plants/common-sorrel",
      "supports": [
        "culinary_caution"
      ]
    }
  ]
}