Sage Growing Guide

Salvia officinalis

Sage

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous 

Soil

Any average, well drained soil enriched with compost.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Hardy through mild frosts. In colder areas, small plants can be potted up in fall and grown through winter indoors.

Feeding

Drench plants with a water soluble organic plant food one month after setting them out.

Spacing

Single Plants: 30cm (11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 40cm (1' 3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with a purchased plant or sow seeds. Frost areas start seeds indoors in early spring. Frost free, sow in seed trays or seed beds in early spring. Plants started from seed may not bloom their first year.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

After the first year, sage plants produce beautiful blue flowers. Cut older plants back in spring if they become woody or straggly

Harvesting

Gather sprigs as needed in the kitchen. Gather stems for drying from spring to autumn.

Troubleshooting

Plants are often short-lived, so root a few stem cuttings each spring to always have vigorous young plants.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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