How to Grow Sage Plants: The Complete Guide (2024)

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Caption

Sage is a useful herb that can be easily grown in yourgarden.

Botanical Name

Salvia officinalis

Plant Type

Herb

Sun Exposure

Full Sun

Soil pH

Slightly Acidic to Neutral

Bloom Time

Summer

Flower Color

Pink

Purple

Hardiness Zone

Special Features

Attracts Butterflies

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Sage

Catherine Boeckmann

March 7, 2024

Gardensage is easy to grow—and a wonderful culinary herb! How do you use sage? Flavor meat and bean dishes(including that Thanksgiving stuffing!). Mix into salads! See how to plant, grow, and harvestsage.

AboutSage

Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish-green leaves that are as good in a perennial border as they are in a vegetable garden. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, blue, white, andpink.

Note: Not all sage varieties are culinary; the most popular kitchen sage is called Salvia officinalis.The origin of the salvia name speaks to this herb’s age-old medicinal value from the Latin salvus “to save” and salvere, “to heal”. Sage contains antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer. It’s also rich in vitamin K, which aids the body in clottingblood.

Planting

How to PlantSage

Plant sage in fullsun.
Sage should be planted in well-draining soil; it won’t tolerate sitting in wetsoil.
The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. Set the plants 2 feetapart.
You can alsosow seeds up to two weeks before the last frost date.(See local frost dates.) Plant the seeds/cuttings in well-drained soil 1 to 2 weeks before the last springfrost.
For best growth, the soil should be between 60º and70ºF.
Plants should grow to be between 12 and 30 inches inheight.
In the garden, plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots, but keep sage away from cucumbers.

Growing

How to GrowSage

Be sure to water the young plants regularly until they are fully grown so that they don’t dry out. They’ll need a consistent moisture supply until they start growingquickly.
Prune the heavier, woody stems everyspring.
It’s best to replace the plants every few years so they remainproductive.

Types

‘Tricolor’ sage, for a bit of color in the garden (yellow, mauve, and sagegreen)

Harvesting

How to HarvestSage

Pinch off leaves or snip off small sprigs from theplant.
During the first year, harvest lightly to ensure that the plant growsfully.
After the first year,be sure to leave a few stalks so that the plant can rejuvenate in thefuture.
If fully established, one plant can be harvested up to three times in oneseason.
Stop harvesting in the fall so the plant can prepare forwinter.

How to StoreSage

Sage’s flavor is best when fresh, but it can be stored frozen ordried.
To dry, hang sprigs in a shady, well-ventilated area and allow them to air dry, waiting until the leaves crumble easily to store in tightly liddedjars.
Sage keeps its flavor better if stored in the freezer. Freeze leaves or stalks on a tray, then move the leaves into a zippered bag or container. Some cooks blend the leaves with oil, pack the ground mixture into ice cube trays to freeze, and then transfer the cubes to acontainer.

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Wit and Wisdom

Anyone who has sage planted in their garden is reputed to do well inbusiness.
For other greens to use in your cuisine, see the Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.

Pests/Diseases

Rust
Powderymildew
Stemrot
Fungal leafspots
Whiteflies
Aphids
Spidermites

Recipes

Ravioli in a Sage and Brown-Butter Sauce

Bagged Roast Turkey With Cornbread, Chestnut, and Sage Stuffing

Cooking Notes

A great way to incorporate the healing benefits of sage is “Sage Butter.” With two ingredients and five minutes, you have an amazing herbal butter that’s wonderful on sweet potatoes, chicken, tossed vegetables, fried eggs, toast, popcorn, and whatever youwish!

In the video below, herbalist Patty Sanders shows us how to make sage butter—and also talks all about the healing benefits ofsage.

Herbs

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

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I have a 3 year old sage plant. It was neglected for a month 3 months ago. So today I trimmed off all the dead and dried leaves. It seems like its made new sage plants. But still seems attached to the main plant. Can I take these "new plants" and it will be a new sage plant?

Hi, Barbara. You can root the new growth. Use a sharp knife to cut away the new shoots, then strip all but three pairs of leaves at the top. Plant the cuttings in potting mix and be sure to keep it moist, but notsaturated.

How will I get the seeds or cutting

HiWillie-

Great question! You can purchase seeds or a seedling at your local nursery or garden supply store. If you are looking for a cutting, we suggest asking a good gardening friend who growssage.

Best of luck in your growingadventures!

I can’t grow safe for the life of me

What troubles do you have growing sage,Norma?

I’ve been growing my sage for about 4 years. It’s done very well. This year it bloomed profusely & beautifully. Should I trim all the blossoms, the flowers are gone now?

If the flowers have stopped and you don’t wish them to go to seed, you can trim them back. This may encourage the plants to flowermore.

I read that sage is a good deterrent that effectively rids a home of rats and other rodents. So I’m asking those who have grown sage, if you have seen this to be true?

Hi Joe, thanks for your question! Sage is quite useful in the kitchen and has many benefits as an herbal remedy, but unfortunately it has not been shown to be an effective natural deterrent for removing rats and other rodents from yourhome.

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