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 only to about 15 degrees F, though winter protection can help. In cold winter 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: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 1' 3" (40cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Start with a purchased plant, or start seeds indoors in early spring. Plants started from seed may not bloom their first year.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
One-year-old plants nursed through winter produce beautiful blue flowers. Sage grown in containers can be kept in a cold garage through winter.
Harvesting
Gather sprigs as needed in the kitchen. Gather stems for drying from spring to fall.
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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