Sage Plant Care – How to Plant, Grow and Harvest Garden Sage

These tips for sage plant care will help you get the most out of this popular garden herb plant.

Garden sage is a culinary herb that is often used around the holidays to flavor your stuffing, but I use it all year round as a flavor component for chicken dishes.

Sage is not just for Thanksgiving. This fragrant herb is easy to grow and can be used to flavor all types of meat and bean dishes. The blossoms from sage plants are great when tossed into a fresh salad.

Sage is widely used in Mediterranean cooking and, in particular, Italian cuisine. It is great when used to flavor fatty meats and is well known for its ability to aid in digestion.

Even if you are a beginning gardener, growing sage is easy.

What is sage?

Sage (salvia officinalis) is a widely cultivated herb that is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family.

The plant has a powerful spicy and aromatic flavor that is also bitter and astringent.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.

The flavor of sage varies greatly depending on the variety grown and the growing location. Some different types of sage plants less commonly found are:

• Greek sage (salvia triloba) has velvety leaves with a felt gray underside and deep blue flowers. It is often used in teas, and is more cold hardy than normal sage plants.
• Clary sage (salvia sclarea) has very large leaves often used to flavor wine. It is also good when used to flavor eggs and infused in tea.
• Purple sage (salvia officinalis var. purpurascens) is a small plant with purple leaves and striking bright blue flowers.
• Tricolor sage (salvia officinalis var. tricolor) is a popular decorative variety of sage that gives a lot of color to a garden. It has a milder flavor and is used less for cooking and more for its decorative look.
• Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha) This variety is cold hardy in zones 8-10. It needs a long growing season and doesn’t start blooming until late summer.

The ancient Romans prized sage for its healing properties and as an astringent and disinfectant herb. The botanical name salvia comes from the Latin word salvare which means to heal.

Sage is not just for stuffing. It's used in lots of Mediterranean recipes. Find out how to grow sage and when to harvest it on The Gardening Cook. #sage #herbs #smudging #whitesage Share on X

Burning sage

Native American cultures often burn what they consider sacred plants and use the smoke from the herb to remove negative energy and bring peace to their living space.

Those who believe in feng shui also believe that sage is a good luck plant that will bring good fortune to the home.

The practice of burning sage is usually done with white sage (salvia apiana), Palo santo, sweet grass and other herbs. This is called “smudging.” Check out this article for growing sage for smudging.

Fresh sage leaves have much more flavor than dried sage, which can have a medicinal aftertaste. The full flavor of sage leaves come out when the herb is cooked with food.

Sage plant care

You need just three things to grow garden sage – fresh air, good soil drainage and plenty of sunshine. Sage can be grown from seed, or you can purchase small plants at a garden center to give you a head start. A soilless seed starting mix works best to start the seeds in.

Follow these tips for sage plant care and you’ll be enjoying the fresh flavor of the herb in just a few weeks.

Does sage need full sun?

Outdoors, sage sun requirements are full sun to very light shade. 6-8 hours of sunlight is ideal, but if you live in the Southern part of the USA, sage will benefit with some relief from the afternoon sun.

You can also grow sage indoors in a bright sunny window. A south facing window is ideal since this gets the most hours of sunlight each day.

When is the best time to plant sage?

Wait until the ground temperature is about 65º F which is normally 1-2 weeks after the last frost in your area.

Seeds or seedlings should be planted 18 – 24 inches apart. You can also plant seeds or seedlings in patio pots. I once grew my entire herb garden and vegetable garden on my back deck.

I like having my herb garden right out my patio door. It ensures that I will be more likely to use them than if I have to trudge to the garden to get them.

Growing sage in pots

Sage growing works well in containers, in raised garden beds and in normal garden beds. Outdoors in most zones it will die back over the winter months.

To grow it year round, consider growing sage in pots. Place it on a sunny windowsill away from drafts.

Sage can also be grow in a hydroponic growing system where the plant is grown in water, instead of in soil. With this type of system, the sage plant gets its nutrients from the water and air.

Soil, and fertilizing requirements for sage

Plant in sandy, well draining soil. The ideal pH for garden sage is between 6.0 and 7.0. Soil rich in nitrogen is also beneficial.

If your soil has a high clay content, add organic matter such as compost so that it will drain more completely when watered.

Don’t add too much fertilizer or you will end up with a plant that grows quickly but with a less intense flavor.

More sage plant care: How often to water sage

Sage is fairly drought resistant and you should avoid over-watering the herb. For the first few weeks, when the plant is getting established, it will likely need watering once or twice a week.

Once established, just add additional water when the soil starts to dry out. Even if your sage plant has leaves that look wilted, a little water will perk the plant up quickly.

Avoid over head watering, if possible, to prevent fungal types of diseases.

Leaves and flowers of sage plants

The leaves of a sage plant are elongated and come to a point at the end. They are a dusty gray green color.

Sage leaves have a velvety texture that is pretty in the garden and also feels nice when you pick the leaves.

With soft textured leaves you need to be very careful of over-watering. Sage leaves can turn yellow if the plant is too wet, or if the leaves get splashed with water too often.

This makes them more susceptible to developing leaf-spot fungus. Water from below for best results.

Sage plants have purple or white flowers that appear in the summer time. The flowers are edible and often used in making vinegar or in decorating cakes.

Cut sage flowers right before they peak. The flowers will be partially opened, but not all the way.

Note on flowering: Most herbs will get more bitter if allowed to flower. If you want the look of flowering sage (which is very pretty) grow some for flowers and others for herbs to get the best of both worlds.

How tall does sage get?

Sage grows to about 2 – 3 feet tall and has a spread of about 18 – 24 inches wide. It does well planted as a low background herb plant in a border with other herbs and also in its own bed.

Mediterranean sage can be invasive. so it is a good choice for containers if you don’t want it to take over your garden area.

Growing sage from cuttings

Sage can be propagated from cuttings to get more plants for free. Make softwood cuttings in early summer. A rooting powder will speed up with rooting process.

Place the cuttings in well draining soil and keep watered until roots develop and the plant starts going.

You can also divide mature sage plants in spring or early fall every 2 or 3 years. The stems of sage will root well by layering.

To layer sage stems, secure long pieces of the stem along the garden soil with some landscape pins or bent wire, leaving the tip free. Make sure the stem comes in contact with the soil.

Roots will form along the stem in about a month and the entire stem can be removed from the parent and planted up separately.

Older sage plants tend to develop a woody taste to the leaves, so after 4 or 5 years, it’s a good idea to start over with new cuttings.

Sage can also be grown from seed.

Companion plants for sage

Sage does well planted near tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and strawberries. The flowers of sage are lovely and attract pollinators. It does not do well near cucumbers.

This aromatic herb will attract honeybees and the cabbage butterfly and repels cabbage flies, carrot fly, cabbage looper and cabbage maggot.

Plant sage in containers with rosemary, thyme, basil, and other Mediterranean herbs, since these flavors are often used together in recipes.

Are you interested in growing herbs but can’t identify them very well? This herb identification chart will be a huge help to you.

How cold hardy is sage?

A common question that readers of the blog often ask is “Is sage a perennial?” Happily, the answer is yes!

Sage is a perennial herb that is evergreen and cold hardy in zones 4 through 9. It will also grow in the warmer zones, but the high temperatures and humidity are hard on the plant, so it is often grown as an annual in these zones.

This herb handles the cold well but add some composted leaf mulch around the plant for winter protection. Most varieties of sage will go dormant in the winter and come back again the following spring.

It can be frozen in fall either chopped or as full leaves to extend the flavor and use of it over the winter.

How to prune sage

Prune sage plants back in the early spring each year, cutting out the oldest and woodiest growth to promote new growth.

Morning is a good time to prune sage. The foliage is moist and easy to trim.

Cut healthy leaves at any time to use in recipes and also to provide better air circulation for the plant and to help prevent fungal diseases.

It is good to cut any dead branches from the ground level but sage should never be entirely cut back to the ground. Pruning in fall and winter is discouraged since frost could damage any new growth.

When to harvest sage

Garden sage will be ready to harvest in 70-75 days from small plants, or 90-100 days from seed.

Harvest lightly in the first year if you grow sage as a perennial. In subsequent years, you can harvest more often. The woody old sage plants produce the leaves with the strongest flavor.

Sage can be harvested almost all year long. The plant survives even after the snows have fallen. To harvest, cut the top 5-6 inch of the stalks before the plant flowers. Repeat as new growth develops.

Unlike many herb plants, sage leaves are still flavorful and aromatic even after the plant flowers. The flavor intensifies as the leaves grow larger.

Pests and diseases that affect sage

Be on the lookout for mildew. You can discourage this condition by making sure that the plants are wide enough apart to encourage good air circulation.

Trimming and pruning leaves often also helps with good air circulation.

Check often for mildew on the hottest and most humid days.

Mulching with pebbles around the crown also helps to keep the area around the leaves dryer than normal mulches.

Other diseases and insects that infect sage are stem rot from over-watering, aphids, spider mites and rust.

Sage plant uses

Sage is useful in stuffing and stews and is often used to flavor sausages.  It is very flavorful and combines best with rich meats such as pork, beef and game.

Combine sage with coarse sea salt to make a flavorful salt that makes a great addition to crispy potatoes.

You can use the herb to make sage butter and it also makes a wonderful herb-infused vinegar. Sage has a very intense flavor, so only a small amount is needed to flavor a recipe.

Sage and mosquitoes

Sage is also a useful plant to repel mosquitoes. The leaves send out a strong fragrance and produces oils that repel the insect.

There are other plants that work in a similar way. Find out how to make a homemade mosquito repellent with essential oils, and learn about other mosquito repelling plants here.

How to preserve sage leaves

You may find that you have more sage than you can use at the end of the growing season. One of the best ways to preserve sage is to freeze the leaves. See more tips on preserving herbs here.

To freeze sage leaves, just place them between sheets of wax paper or foil which has been coated in olive oil. The leaves will remain supple even after freezing and you can remove them individually as needed.

You can also chop sage leaves and add them to an ice cube tray with some olive oil. Use the flavored oil cubes when cooking to give both oil and the flavor of the oil to the recipe.

Dry sage by hanging bunches of the stems upside-down to dry for about a week. Strip the dried leaves from the stem and store in an airtight container.

Pin these sage plant care tips for later

Would you like a reminder of these tips for growing garden sage? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest.

Admin note: this post for growing sage first appeared on the blog in May of 2019. I have updated the post to add all new photos, a printable project card, and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: Great to use with hearty meats and in stuffings.

Sage Plant Care - Tips for Growing Garden Sage

Print

Sage is well known around the holidays but is also a herb that is useful year round. Use it to flavor pork, beef and sausages.

Active Time 50 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $5

Materials

• Sage Plant
• Fertilizer
• Well Draining Soil

Tools

• Hose or watering can

Instructions

1. Sunlight needs: Full sun outdoors, very sunny window indoors.
2. Watering requirements: Water well until establishes, then it is fairly drought tolerant. Avoid overwatering.
3. Soil pH: 6.0 - 7.0
4. Size of plant: 3-4 feet tall and 18-24 inches wide.
5. Propagation: Stem Cuttings and layering.
6. Cold Hardiness: Zones 4-9
7. Pests and Diseases: Powdery mildew, stem rot and rust. Be on the lookout for aphids and spider mites.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Bonnie Plants Pineapple Sage - 4 Pack Live Plants
• 
  AeroGarden Bounty Indoor Hydroponic Herb Garden
• 
  Bonnie Plants Garden Sage Live Herb Plants - 4 Pack

Share on Social Media