Bert Swope
Sage is an ideal perennial plant in climates with cool winters and an equally popular container plant. When harvesting the sage plants lightly each year to allow time for regeneration.
Plant Sage in spring once the last frost date has passed or sow seeds indoors, or transplant seedlings when weather warms up.
Choose a Suitable Location
Sage is best grown when planted in well-draining soil with full sun exposure and few pest problems, though humid climates may result in mildew or stem rot. A light layer of organic mulch helps retain soil moisture and regulate temperature more evenly than direct sunlight alone.
If you are growing sage in containers, choose a loose, loamy soilless potting mix enhanced with compost for best results. A soilless medium also makes an excellent way to start growing from seeds.
When sowing seeds indoors for growing sage from seeds, sow them 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost date. Once established, sage plants require minimal care or watering once established; leaves may be harvested throughout the season by pinching off small sprigs or clipping whole stems with scissors; mature plants should be lightly pruned in early spring to eliminate woody sections that won’t produce new leaves.
Soil Preparation
Sage needs fertile and well-draining soil in order to flourish. Addition of aged compost, manure, or sand will improve drainage while increasing organic matter content in clay or sandy soil types. Sage thrives best in sunny locations.
Plant your sage seeds either in spring or fall, thinning out seedlings to 18-24 inches apart. To increase germination speed, warm the soil using either a heating pad or fluorescent lights.
Perennial sage can be grown easily from seed, although this does take time. As an alternative, purchase young plants from a nursery or grower. They should be ready for transplant in spring or fall and overwintered indoors in cold climates if necessary. Sage does not like high doses of fertilizer so use general-purpose liquid feed diluted to the recommended amounts instead; additionally avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot in wetter environments.
Planting
Sage plants thrive as perennials or annuals depending on your climate, with seeds being propagated or transplanted from a container. When planting from seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your average last frost date in spring; outdoors once weather warms up.
Use well-draining soilless potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Planter Mix with compost addition if transplanting. Sage is susceptible to mildew and stem rot, so water only when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil have become dry.
When propagating from an established sage plant, take four to six inch sections of young stem and dip them in rooting hormone before planting in small pots of soilless potting mix. As it grows, thin it out for proper spacing.
Spacing
No matter whether you grow your sage from seeds or transplanting cuttings, ensuring they are spaced appropriately is key in order to avoid many common pest issues. Sage prefers being spaced 18-24 inches apart in soil that drains well as this helps avoid root rot problems that could otherwise arise with this herb.
When planting from seed, start sowing 8 weeks prior to your average last frost date in spring or use an indoor seed heating mat and sterile seed-starting mix in order to control and optimize germination conditions. Once germinated, thin them to their appropriate spacing in order to prevent overcrowding and encourage strong plant growth. Sage is not heavy feeder but should still be fertilized regularly in order to promote health growth and flavor; this is particularly important when growing container plants.
Watering
Sage plants are relatively drought-tolerant, yet prefer well-drained soil. When planting them, make sure the first several weeks after sowing are wet to the point that wrung-out sponge moisture levels persist; thereafter water every other day until their roots have established themselves fully.
If planting sage in your garden, add grit to improve drainage. Cuttings of this easy-growing soft wood plant will root quickly when secured in the soil with landscape pins or bent wire.
Avoid overwatering sage as this will encourage mildew and other fungal diseases to form on the leaves. Overwatering must especially be avoided during bloom time as blooming flowers need plenty of moisture in order to open fully and develop their intense flavor. You should also refrain from fertilizing it too frequently as overdoing it could lead to weak, bitter leaves.
Mulching
Sage seeds require full sun for optimal germination, but they also work well as shade plants in areas with hot summers (zone 8 or higher). Prior to sowing, prepare the soil by mixing in some sand or organic matter to improve drainage; Sage prefers an acidic to neutral pH soil pH range for best growth; maintain consistent moist but not wet conditions for best germination results, then thin seedlings once established to maintain proper spacing between rows of seedlings.
Sage is easily propagated from softwood cuttings taken in early summer, using rooting powder for faster results. Furthermore, division every two to three years allows you to multiply it further – be sure to find some healthy mature sage plants at your local garden center or ask other gardeners if they would share cuttings – most are willing! Finally, light pruning should help control its size over time.
Fertilization
Sage plants require minimal attention and require only light fertilization; however, an organic balanced fertilizer like Scotts Osmocote Plus Organics Tomato Vegetable and Herb Potting Mix’s recommended products will help improve soil texture and increase nutrient levels.
When growing sage in your garden, apply a light layer of mulch around its base in order to conserve moisture and limit weed growth while simultaneously helping regulate soil temperature. Mulching also acts as a natural soil temperature regulator.
In the initial year, occasionally harvest only a few leaves to allow your plant to take root and establish itself. After two years have passed, trim back any overgrown growth by pruning. Sage can also be dried for later use if desired; to ensure maximum flavor preservation it must be dried quickly by tying sprigs together and hanging in a warm and ventilated space.
Pruning
Sage is an exceptionally hardy perennial that can be harvested throughout the year. As its leaves expand larger, they become more flavorful – to maintain fresh growth it should be pruned regularly to encourage new shoots. Avoid getting it wet as this can lead to mildew problems.
Sage can be propagated either from seed or transplants purchased in spring after the last frost date, although starting from seed requires stratification for optimal growth.
Softwood cuttings of sage can be easily rooted in pots with a mixture of sharp sand and peat, using rooting powder to accelerate the process. Sage stems may also be propagated by layering; to do this simply secure them along the ground using landscape pins or bent wire, and cover it with soil layers; the plant can then be divided every two or three years.
Harvesting
Sage plants produce their most aromatic leaves just before and after blooming, so by regularly harvesting these leaves the plant will recover more quickly and produce more blooms.
To encourage new growth and maintain its health, prune older stems when necessary. However, don’t overprune as this can leave it spindly and less appealing.
Sage tolerates frost well, although mulching for winter protection is recommended. Sage also thrives in containers when planted during fall – just choose one size up and make sure the well-draining soil drains well; don’t forget to water regularly until roots have established themselves – it has an average moisture requirement but can survive drier conditions once established; its leaves are the edible part, but you can dry the plant as well for use later.
Preservation
Sage can be preserved through various means, including hanging and drying. Tie 4-6 stems together into small bunches, hang them up in an ideal environment such as cool dark area with enough ventilation, and allow to dry until they feel brittle or crumble easily before placing in airtight containers for storage.
Growing sage in containers is an ideal solution when there is not enough light or space available in your garden for this plant. A large container at least 8 inches deep and wide with drainage holes works best, while for optimal results use a well-draining soil mix such as potting mix.
Sage can be propagated via seed or cuttings. To do this, take at least 4- to 6-inch long stems that have been stripped of their leaves from the bottom half and dip them in rooting hormone before inserting them in moist soilless potting mix containers.
