Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Growing sage
• Part 2 of 3: Taking care of sage
• Part 3 of 3: Harvesting sage
• Tips
• Warnings

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a strong perennial (in plant growing zones 5 to 9) that tastes aromatic and slightly bitter. It is easy to grow as it only has three main needs - plenty of sunshine, good drainage and good air circulation. It looks pleasant in the garden and blooms with pretty purple, pink, blue or white flowers in the summer. When harvested and dried, it can be used as a filling for poultry, rabbit, pig and fried fish, and it can also be used in sausage or meatloaf. If you want to learn how to grow sage at home, read on.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Growing sage

1. Buy sage seeds or a sage plant. You can use different methods to grow sage. If you've never had sage before, you can either plant fresh sage seeds (which can be whimsical) or buy a small plant from the garden center and plant it in your yard or in a mason jar.
   • If you decide to plant seeds, they should be planted in late spring (in a planting bed or in a pot), about 3mm deep and two to three feet apart. It will take 10 to 21 days for them to germinate.
   • If you already have a rooted sage plant, you can use cuttings or laying techniques to grow a new plant.
2. Prepare the soil. Sage grows well in rich clay loam that is well drained and rich in nitrogen. It prefers a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
   • If you're using clay soil, try mixing in some sand and organic matter. This will lighten the soil and help with drainage.
   • Sage grows best among other perennial herbs that prefer sandy soil, such as thyme, oregano, marjoram and parsley.
3. Plant the sage. After you prepare your soil, you can plant the sage in pots or in the ground. You can plant sage plants or plant seeds.
   • If you are transferring a sage plant to the ground, be sure to plant it at the same level as it is in the pot.
   • If you decide to plant seeds, they should be planted in late spring (in a bed or container) about 12 inches deep and 75 to 150 inches apart. It takes 10 to 21 days for seeds to germinate.
4. Do not overwater. When the sage plants are small, you should spray them with water to keep the soil moist.
   • But when they mature, you should only water sage when the soil around the plant feels dry.
   • In fact, in some circumstances you don't need to water your sage at all - they will get all the moisture they need from the rain.
   • Sage is a tough little plant and can withstand drought very well.
5. Provide enough sunlight. Ideally, sage plants should grow in full sun, but they will also manage in light shade in warmer areas.
   • If sage is exposed to too much shade, it will grow overgrown and fall over. So if you are growing your sage plant indoors without much sunlight, you can use fluorescent lights instead. Standard fluorescent lights should hang 5-10 cm above the plants.
   • However, fluorescent lamps with a high light output, compact fluorescent tubes or high pressure gas discharge grow lamps (metal rock sand or sodium lamps) work better. When used, they should hang 0.6 to 1.2 meters above the plants.

Part 2 of 3: Taking care of sage

1. Prune the sage in early spring. Prune the older, woody trunks early in the spring, after the danger of frost has passed but before new growth has actually started. Prune each stem by about a third.
2. Prevent mildew. Mildew is one of the few problems that sage growers face. You can avoid it by carefully monitoring the plants during hot, humid weather and by thinning the plants regularly to improve air circulation.
   • You can also try mulching the soil around the plant with pebbles, as this will help any moisture evaporate more quickly.
   • If mildew does develop on your plant, try spraying with a horticultural oil or sulfur spray.
3. Control pests. Sage is not usually a target for pests, but sometimes it will be affected by spider mites, thrips and Cercopoidea. If you notice pests, try an organic pesticide (such as pyrethrum) or an insecticide soap to control them.
4. Replace the plant every three to five years. About every three to five years, the sage plant will become woody and overgrown and it will need to be replaced. You can start over with a new plant or seed, or you can use the old plant for cuttings or discard.
   • To discard the plant bend a branch of the existing sage towards the ground. Use some wire to tie the branch to the ground about 10 cm from the end. Roots will form after about four weeks. Then you can cut the branch and replant the newly formed sage plant.
   • To use cuttings cut the top 8 cm of the branch from an existing sage plant. Remove the bottom leaves from the branch, or use scissors to cut them. Dip the ends in cutting powder, then place in sterile sand. Wait 4 to 6 weeks for roots to form, then move it to a pot and later to the garden.

Part 3 of 3: Harvesting sage

1. Harvest the sage. Harvest the sage lightly during the first year, picking the leaves when you need them.
   • In the following years, you can harvest the sage all year round by cutting entire branches from the plant. Sage is best just before the flowers start to bloom, usually in the middle of summer.
   • Do your last full harvest about two months before the first true frost of the year. This will give any newly formed foliage enough time to mature before winter sets in.
2. Dry the sage. Sage is one of the few herbs that develops a stronger flavor when dried. However, it must be dried quickly to prevent it from developing a stale taste.
   • To dry sage, tie a bunch of twigs together and hang them upside down in a warm, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight.
   • Once they are dry, store the leaves (crumbled or whole) in an airtight container.
3. Use the sage. In addition to being used as an aromatic herb in cooking, sage can also be used in potpourri and soap. Check out WikiHow for some uses for sage:
   • Make cookies with Parmesan cheese and sage
   • Make cold cream with violets and sage
   • Make oatmeal and sage soap
   • Make sage and ginger tea

Tips

• Sage grows to a height of 60 to 90 cm and will be about 60 cm in diameter.
• Sage attracts bees and helps ward off cabbage whites.
• Some types of pests for sage include snails, Cercopoidea, spider mites and mealy bugs.
• Damping off, downy mildew, root rot, and wilt are a few common diseases of sage.

Warnings

• Be careful about using pesticides if you want to eat the sage.