Guide to growing Sage - Salvia
Photograph of Peruvian Sage
Purple Sage
Honeydew Sage
The leaves of sage can be harvested at any time, but if you are planning to dry them then harvest sage leaves before flowering has occurred. Salvia blooms from the summer through autumn and has lipped tubular flowers; these can be of many colours including red, purple, yellow and white.
Salvia pratensis – Meadow Clary by Franco Folini; Creative Commons.
Salvia officinalis by Passa.sr; Creative Commons.
Quick Salvia Growing Guide and Facts
Common Names: Sage, Clary, Chia. Sage: Common; Greek; Pineapple; White; Mexican bush; Baby; Scarlet; Diviners.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual, hardy annual. Half hardy perennial commonly grown as a biennial or half hardy annual by gardeners.
Height: 12 to 60 inches (30 to 150 cm).
Native: Mediterranean, Americas, Europe, Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10.
Flowers: Summer and/or autumn.
Flower Details: Blue, red, violet, yellow, white. Racemes. Panicles. Tubular. Bell-shaped. Lipped.
Foliage: Entire. Pinnate. Toothed.
Sow Outside: Surface. Annuals and Perennials: a couple of weeks after the last frost. Biennials: At the start of autumn. Spacing 6 to 36 inches (15 to 90 cm).
Sow Inside: Vermiculite. Water from below. Germination time: one to three weeks. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Annuals: three months in advance. Transplant outdoors a couple of weeks after the last frost; minimum temperature should not drop below 41°F (5°C).
Requirements: Full sunlight or light shade. Good drainage. Soil pH 6 to 7.5. Rich soil. Moist soil. Occasional feed. Water during prolonged dry periods. Pinch tips. May require support. Deadhead. Perennials should be cut back to about two inches (5 cm) in autumn. Perennials should be divided every three years in the autumn (warm areas) or spring (cooler areas).
How to grow Sage
When growing Sage from seed it is very important to sow from fresh seed. If growing indoors first then it is necessary to first refrigerate the sage seeds for three weeks (within moist soil; in a plastic bag). The sage seeds should then be sown on the surface of vermiculite and watered from beneath. Germination of Sage should take from about one to three weeks at 18 to 24 degrees centigrade. Sage should be transplanted outdoors following the last frost.
If starting to grow Sage outdoors from the off then sow the seed at the end of February, or in autumn for biennial Salvia members. Sage prefers a sunny area of the garden to grow in, but may require afternoon shade in very warm areas. The soil that Sage and other Salvia grows in should be rich and moist. Ideally the Ph will be slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.8 to 7.0). Salvia should be spaced at about 15cm (small varieties) to 60cm (large Salvia plants).
Caring for Sage in the herb garden
Once established pinch back the tips of young Sage plants when they reach about 16cm; this will encourage more branching and a bigger harvest. Once Sage has flowered dead head them. Sage likes moist soil so it is important to water them regularly. If you are growing perennial Salvia then cut them back in the autumn to about 5cm in height, and divide them every four years to maintain vigor.