Culinary superstar sage may be a pretty, low shrub with pale, velvet-soft greyish green leaves. A member of the Labiatae , sage is straightforward to grow and does well in containers, the bottom and indoors. If you’re looking to feature a replacement herb to your mix this year, read on to find out everything you would like to understand about this hardy, versatile plant.

Here, we’ll cover:

What is Sage?

1. Popular sorts of Sage
2. Steps to Planting Sage Plants
3. Caring for Sage
4. Common questions on Growing Sage

What is Sage?

Sage is popular both within the kitchen also as for what some concede to be medicinal purposes. It’s referred to as a showstopper in fall dishes, complementing pork and poultry, pairing well with lamb, and sometimes utilized in Thanksgiving stuffing. It’s also the right flavor to feature to fall and winter squash dishes and risottos. it’s both aromatic and flavorful, and maybe planted with Mediterranean herbs like rosemary or basil. Some people believe sage’s medicinal properties could also be good for improving memory and helping resolve stomach ailments. additionally, to using sage for cooking, there also are some varieties that are purely ornamental

GET to understand SAGE

1. Botanical name and family: common sage and species (Lamiaceae—mint family)
2. Origin: Mediterranean
3. Type of plant: Sage may be a hardy perennial shrub.
4. Growing season: Summer
5. Growing zones: Sage grows zones 4 to 8; it thrives in hot or cool dry environments.
6. Hardiness: Sage is immune to both cold and heat; its cold hardy to -30°
7. Plant form and size: Sage may be a hardy rounded perennial shrub–often woody–that can grow 12 to about 24 inches tall and sometimes as large as 36 inches tall and wide, a couple of varieties may grow taller. Sage stems elongate into upright flowering spikes in late spring. There are dwarf varieties that grow to 1 foot high with proportionately smaller leaves.
8. Flowers: Sage has tubular flowers that are commonly bluish-lavender, red, or bicolor (depending on the variety) and forms in whorls on tall spikes.
9. Bloom time: Sage flowers in summer.
10. Leaves: Sage has elongated, oval- to lance-shaped, wrinkled, grayish-green leaves from 1 to five inches long with a rough , pebbly surface. Several sage varieties have variegated leaves: purple, yellow, green, or green and white.

HOW TO PLANT SAGE

1. Best location: Plant sage fully sun; sage will tolerate partial shade but the flavour of leaves are going to be diminished.
2. Soil preparation: Grow sage in well-drained soil. Sandy loam is best but sage will grow in very average soil also . Sage prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.7.
3. Seed starting indoors: Start sage seed indoors as early as 6 to eight weeks before the typical last frost date.
4. Transplanting to the garden: Transplant seedlings bent the garden after the last frost when the soil has warmed.
5. Outdoor planting time: Sow sage seed within the garden in late spring about or after the last frost. Sow seed shallowly.
6. Planting depth:Sow sage seeds ¼ inch deep.
7. Spacing: Thin sage seedlings or space transplants 20 inches apart or more. Space rows 20 to 24 inches apart.
8. How much to plant: Grow one or two sage plants for cooking; grow 4 to six plants for preserving.
9. Companion planting: Grow sage with chives and calendula, also with cabbage, carrots, strawberries, and tomatoes. Sage is claimed to discourage cabbage-family pests like imported cabbage worms and root maggot flies. Flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects to the garden. Some say sage will stunt the expansion of cucumbers and features a negative effect on onions.

HOW TO GROW SAGE

1. Watering: Sage requires regular even watering until established. Once established keep sage on the dry side. Sage is definitely killed by overwatering or soggy soil. Lack of water will improve the flavorof sage, but avoid allowing the plant to wilt from lack of moisture. Overhead watering may cause serious mildew problems.
2. Feeding: Sage grows best in sandy-loam soil but doesn’t require regular feeding. Give sage a side dressing of compost tea twice during the season.
3. Mulching: Mulch around sage with aged compost or chopped leaves in extremely popular regions; mulch will slow soil moisture evaporation. Mulch also in severe winter regions to stay roots from freezing.
4. Care: Divide sage plants every three years to take care of vigor. For best flavor, prune away flower stems before they bloom. Trim or cut plants back in autumn to renew foliage for the subsequent season. Sage will become woody and decline after several years and will get replaced.
5. Container growing: Sage is often container-grown as an annual. Grow sage during a pot a minimum of 8 inches deep and wide.
6. Winter growing: Over-winter container-grown sage during a protected place, an unheated garage, or patio. Where winters are cold, mulch over plants to assist sage to survive through the winter. Sage doesn’t grow well where winters are wet or springs are moist and cold

TROUBLESHOOTING SAGE

1. Pests: Sage has no serious pest problems.
2. Diseases: Sage has no serious disease problems but can suffer plant disease if grown during a place that’s too damp or shady.

HOW TO HARVEST SAGE

1. When to harvest: nip individual leaves as required during the season . Sage requires 75 to 80 days from sowing to succeed in maturity.
2. How to harvest: Prune or trim sage with a garden pruner. Harvest leaves from well-established plants. Trim away 6 to eight inches of leafy growth twice during the season to stay sage bushy.

SAGE within the KITCHEN

1. Flavor and aroma: Sage features a lemony, camphor-like fragrance and taste.
2. Leaves: Leaves are eaten fresh in salads and cooked in omelets, fritters, soups, marinades, sausages, and poultry stuffing. Cook sage with beef, pork, fish, lamb, and poultry. Add dried leaves to artichokes, tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, squash, corn, potatoes, eggplant, snap beans, leeks, onions, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, oranges, lemons, garlic, cheese, and shell beans. Blend sage with butter or soft cheeses.
3. Dried leaves: the flavor of sage intensifies with drying; one teaspoon of dried sage equals one tablespoon of chopped fresh sage.

PRESERVING AND STORING SAGE

1. Refrigeration: Fresh leaves will keep 2 or 3 days within the refrigerator wrapped during a towel placed during a bag.
2. Drying: Hang bunches of sage by their stems during a well-ventilated, shaded, warm place; drying will take 2 to five days. The longer sage dries the more flavor it’ll lose.
3. Freezing: Sage leaves are often frozen in an airtight freezer container or bag.
4. Storing: Store dried leaves in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

PROPAGATING SAGE

1. Seed: Stratify seeds for several weeks then sow indoors. Seeds germinate in about 14 days. From seed, it can take a year for the sage to succeed in useable size.
2. Cuttings: Sage are often started from stem cuttings taken from new growth in late spring or summer or from divisions in spring or fall. Use 4 to 6-inch cuttings; dip the cut ends during a rooting hormone to assist root formation.
3. Division: Divide older established plants in spring or fall with a spade.
4. Layering: Sage are often propagated by layering during the season. Place soil over an herbaceous section of the branch.

SAGE VARIETIES TO GROW

1. Garden sage(Salvia officinalis): hardy perennial to 30 inches; gray-green leaves and violet flowers.
   Salvia officinalis‘Albiflora’: garden sage with white flowers.
2. Golden sage( S. o. ‘Aurea’): the compact plant grows to 18 inches tall with variegated golden and green foliage.
3. Purple sage( S. o. ‘Purpurea’): purple-red edged leaves.
4. Tricolor sage( S. o. ‘Tricolor’): finely wrinkled, variegated leaves of green, white, purple, red, and pink.
5. Clary sage( S. sclarea): tallest sage to five feet tall and wide; very large leaves
6. Pineapple sage( S. elegans): dark green leaves with strong pineapple fragrance, not hardy; grows 24 to 42 inches tall; brilliant red flowers.
7. Blue sage( S. Cleveland): tall to 4 feet; substitute for garden sage.
8. Green sage( S. fruticose): large, gray-green leaves, strongly aromatic.
9. Black currant sage( S. microphylla): broad, deep green leaves with a currant-like fragrance.

Popular sorts of Sage

There are a mind-blowing 900 species of salvia (which is that the largest genus of plants within the mint family). a number of the foremost popular varieties are:

1. Berggarten Sage – Berggarten sage is extremely almost like the common garden sage in color, look, and elegance of leaves, but it doesn’t bloom.
2. Garden Sage – Garden sage is one among the foremost well-known varieties and is additionally mentioned as “common sage.” It’s hardy and may resist even extreme cold during winters, bouncing back each spring. Soft, greenish silvery leaves with purple-bluish flowers make this herbal addition a pleaser in any garden. May become woody after 3 – 4 years and wish to get replaced.
3. Golden Sage – Golden sage may be a creeping plant and has green and golden variegated leaves. Beautiful during a garden with other plants, because the colors accentuate whatever is planted around it.
4. Grape Scented Sage – Grape scented sage is one of the largest-growing varieties, growing up to eight feet tall by 6 feet wide. This sage actually doesn’t smell like grapes, because the name would imply, but rather has the sweet smell of freesia. Its flowers and leaves will attract hummingbirds and maybe steeped to form tea.
5. Mealycup Sage – Mealycup sage, the foremost common version is understood as blue salvia, grows about 2 – 3 feet and is most frequently an annual, counting on the region you’re growing it in. it’s lovely purple, white or blue flower spikes and has several varieties like “Empire Purple” and “Victoria Blue.”
6. Mexican Bush Sage – Mexican bush sage is drought tolerant and grows 3 – 4 feet. Despite having the ability to face up to drought conditions, it’s otherwise a young perennial with white or purple flower spikes. It’s a pleasant accent plant.
7. Purple Sage – chaparral sage plants have purple leaves when young. Also used for cooking, but unlike garden sage, a chaparral sage bush doesn’t bloom fairly often.
8. Pineapple Sage – Pineapple sage is primarily grown as a decorative plant but is additionally widely thought to possess medicinal properties. This perennial grows tubular red flowers and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
9. Scarlet Sage – Scarlet sage is an annual that basically thrives fully sun, but also can withstand some partial shade as long as it’s planted in well-draining soil. It boasts gorgeous scarlet blooms that produce from late spring through the primary frost of the year.
10. Tricolor Garden Sage – Tricolor garden sage is analogous in looks to chaparral sage, but has uneven white accented leaves, giving it the perception of being “tricolored.”
11. White Sage – western mugwort is additionally referred to as bee sage and is employed for cooking. Slow growing, the western mugwort plant is an evergreen perennial shrub that will take up to three years to mature and grows to 2 – 3 feet tall.

Steps to Planting Sage Plants

It’s not hard to find out the way to grow sage. From where to plant it, to the way to get the simplest results, just follow our simple step-by-step guide to growing sage for years of enjoyment.

1. When is the best time to plant sage? Plant sage after the ground temperature reaches 65°F – about 1 – 2 weeks before you have the last frost of the year.
2. Should you grow from seeds? If you decide to grow your sage from seed, take note that it will likely take a couple of years to fully mature. If you choose to go the seed route, sow indoors for 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost under a plant light. Sage seeds will take about 3 weeks to germinate, and then you can transplant seedlings to your prepared soil. You can also propagate new plants from other cuttings or by layering.
3. Choose the right soil. Sage needs sandy, loamy, well-draining soil. You want a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth. Do not over-fertilize if you’re growing for culinary purposes – while you may get faster growth, you will likely lose intensity in flavor. If you’re planting in clay soil, mix in organic matter and sand to provide better drainage.
4. Where does sage grow? Sage does best in medium to full sun. It can also do well in containers or indoors – just be sure it’s near a sunny window if you’re growing it inside. If you live in zones 5 to 8, your sage will be a hardy perennial. If you’re in the humid zones of 9 or anywhere further south, it will likely be an annual, as it doesn’t tolerate summer humidity and heat very well.
5. How to space sage plants. Most sage plants grow in a roundish bush shape, so take care not to plant them too close together so they have room to mature. Space sage plants about 24” apart.
6. How much water does a sage plant need? Sage is a relatively drought-tolerant herb. Even if it begins to wilt, it will typically perk up with water. Don’t over-water – wait until your soil is dry, and then thoroughly water.

Caring for Sage

Sage is an easy-to-grow plant that doesn’t demand a ton of care. It has a long growing season and is one of the few herbs that doesn’t lose intensity in flavor after flowering. It’s not susceptible to many pest threats, and most often, your only concern may be mildew, which you can avoid by taking care to not overwater.

1. How to prune sage? You should prune your sage back in early spring. Be sure to cut past the woody, thick stems to keep your next-season leaves fresh and flavorful.
2. How often to water sage. Water sage sparingly. Too much water and you risk mildew. Wait for the soil to completely dry out, then water thoroughly.
3. When to harvest sage. Sage can be harvested as needed. You should clip just above the part of the plant where two leaves meet. Harvest your sage in the morning, after the dew has dried. During the first year of growth, harvest lightly to ensure full growth.
4. How often to harvest sage. Once or twice during each growing season, do a larger harvest, cutting the stems back no more than about half of the sage plant. Doing so will ensure you have a nice, evenly-shaped plant that’s beautifully round and full.
5. How to store sage. For the most fragrant and intense flavor, use your sage fresh. However, you can also dry it for later use or teas. Keep in mind, if cooking with dried sage, the flavor will be much more concentrated. You should adjust recipes accordingly.
6. How to dry sage. Drying sage leaves is simple. Cut small bunches, leaving the leaves on the stems, and tie your cuttings together. Hang upside down in a dark, cool, well-ventilated room until bunches are dry and leaves are crisp. Remove leaves from stems and store them whole, crushing as needed.

Common Questions About Growing Sage

Why is my sage plant dying?

The most common reason your sage may be doing poorly is overwatering. Soil should be dry before watering to prevent mildew and yellow or brown spots.

Can sage survive winter?

Sage is a cold-hardy herb. In most regions, particularly zones 5 – 8, most varieties will simply go dormant in the winter and come back the next spring.

How long does sage last?

As long as properly cared for, harvested, and pruned every season, your sage plant can last you many years. Some have found that their plants get more and more woody as the years go by and that by year 3, the plant is no longer as productive or flavorful. However, others note that by cutting back past the woody stems at the end of each growing season, you can get many more years out of this herb.