Growing sage can be easy as it’s a hardy herb and can grow well given the right environment. And you can start sage off in several different ways. If you already have access to a sage plant, then you can grow sage from cuttings, if you don’t then you can grow sage from seeds. In this article, I’ll go over how to grow sage and the benefits of growing sage. Then I’ll touch on if growing sage from seeds is easy or not. (I will cover how to harvest your own sage seeds for future projects too!). This sage growing guide also covers when you should plant your sage seeds once you have them. Plus there are two step-by-step guides about planting your sage seeds outside in the garden or indoors in a pot. Ready?
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Sage is a low-maintenance herb and it’s easy to care for. Given the right growing conditions, it will thrive and produce many harvests for you. Those growing conditions include ensuring that sage has the right soil or compost, so I’ve included an entire section on that. There are lots of types of sage that you can grow, literally hundreds of them. Some sage plants are annuals, some sages are biennials and there are also perennial sage options too. Perennials are best grown from young plants, but annuals and biennials are easy to grow from seed.
This growing guide for sage covers how to germinate your sage seeds and what to do after germination to help with growth. There are details on whether you should plant sage in a pot or a garden. A full section on the best potting soil and compost for your sage plant, depending on where you decide to plant it as well as what to avoid when choosing compost for your sage plant.
Why Grow Sage
There’s a lot to love about this herb, which is exactly why you should grow it in your garden or indoors. It’s a great companion plant for others as well. Sage attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies to help the garden thrive. Also, sage has similar growing needs to other plants to grow well together. Some varieties of Sage are perennial in some areas, so you can grow the same plant for a few years and get many harvests from it.
You can read about companion planting here and my guide to sage companion plants is here.
When you harvest sage, you’ll be able to use the fresh leaves in various recipes for a strong, lemony flavour. Alternatively, you can dry out the sage leaves or freeze them so that they’ll last longer for other recipes. My guide to the differences between using fresh sage and dried sage is here.
Sage can add a lot to your recipes, especially Mexican, Italian, and European dishes. Sage can easily be added to a mix of ingredients, as a garnish, as a dry rub, or it can be used to marinate meat. Sage has a pine and citrus flavour that will add some extra spice to your meals, and it can easily be used fresh, dried, ground, or rubbed.
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Should you Grow Sage in the Ground or in Pots?
If you’re a fan of this site, then you’ll know that I love growing everything in pots and containers. It’s extremely versatile and allows me to take plants with me when we move, and also move them around. Our tiny backyard years ago only had a small amount of sun and so every living thing (us included) had to share in it!
When it comes to Sage, you can grow sage in either a pot or a garden. There’s no right or wrong way to do so. Simply get the compost or soil right, ensure there’s enough sunlight and don’t overwater it whether it’s in the ground or a pot.
Best Types of Sage to Grow in the UK
You can’t go far from with common sage in the UK. It’s the classic garden and cooking sage. Growing sage from seed can be a slow start, so it’s best to start with a young plant if you can.
Salvia Purpurea –get started quickly and early with this sage plant – buy sage plants here
Sage seeds to grow from scratch – these seeds are a great option to start with
Sage tricolour – these plants will get you started really quickly.
Russian sage – great for colour and something different – try Russian sage
Great sage herb seeds to get you started from Amazon
How to Grow Sage from Seed
You can grow sage from seeds that you harvest yourself, from seeds that you buy and also from cuttings. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to grow sage. I’ve covered growing sage indoors and outdoors. Sage can also be grown hydroponically. If you’re interested in growing sage hydroponically, then my guide to hydroponic herbs is here.
Sage seeds are inexpensive, and sage seeds keep well for up to four years. So, you can plant some now and then store the rest for another time as needed.
When to Plant Sage Seeds
The best time to plant sage outside is about late spring, and the soil or compost temperature needs to be about 18 degrees Celsius. The ground should be this temperature in early spring, about one to two weeks before the final frost of the winter. We’d usually sow sage seeds in March, April and May in the UK.
You can get a head start on planting sage by planting it indoors and then transferring it to the garden later. If you do this, plant the seeds inside about six to eight weeks before the final frost of the season. Then, in late spring, you can bring the plant outside and put it in the garden.
Alternatively, you can begin growing sage at some point in the early autumn (September and October). Sage is hardy in general, but it’s also a cold-hardy plan and it can thrive throughout the seasons if you provide the right growing conditions.
Unsure about when the weather is right for you? Why not try growing sage in pots until you’re confident of your growing conditions? Growing sage in pots means that it’s easy to move the herb in and out depending on the weather conditions.
Can you plant Sage at other times of the year?
Yes, you can plant sage at other times during the year. While this herb does grow best in the summer months, it is a cold-hardy plant. And while above I’ve said to aim for Spring or early Autumn, you can plant it during other times of the year.
You can, for example, begin planting sage inside a pot indoors at any time. If you’re going to keep the plant inside the house throughout the year, as long as you can give it the best growing conditions inside, then you can begin planting it at any time of the year.
Growing sage in pots inside means that once the plant is well established in the pot and the temperature outside is appropriate, then you can transfer the plant to the garden. If you’re doing this, I’d keep the plant in the pots, just make sure your pot is suitable for outside. This way, your sage will still grow well, but it won’t run into other plants in the garden if you don’t have the space. However, companion planting will still work this way.
Where to Plant Sage
A sage plant – again depending on the variety – will usually need around 60 centimetres of space around it if you’re planting it in the garden. You’ll want to opt, if you have a choice, for an area of the garden that has the full sun as sage does best in that environment.
Choosing a place for Sage in the Garden (or a pot placement)
Choosing the right place to plant your sage or position your pot of Sage will make a big difference in how well it grows. Firstly, if you decide to plant your sage in the garden with other plants, there are a few other things to consider.
You’ll want to choose a spot in the garden that gets plenty of sunlight during the day. Also, you can plant it near other herbs and plants that are good companions for sage. Chives, strawberries, or carrots are great to grow with sage. They’ll help each other thrive in the garden. I’ve covered companion planting later in this article and have an entirely separate piece of content on it here.
However, in addition to considering companion planting, your sage should be well-spaced out between other plants. Sage can, again, depending on the variety that you choose, grow big and tall. To ensure that the sage plant doesn’t run into any other plants while growing, you’ll want to space the plants at least 50-60 centimetres apart.
Sage plants can grow anywhere between 30 centimetres and 75 centimetres tall, so you can plant your sage plant in front of another plant that needs less sunlight and is shorter. Then your sage will get more sunlight in the afternoon while protecting another plant.
Choosing a Pot for Sage
If you’re growing sage in a pot or container, then you’ll want to make sure that it’s at least 20 centimetres wide in diameter and 25 centimetres deep. You’ll need to ensure it has good drainage holes as sage prefers a drier environment and will not do well if the roots are waterlogged.
Compost and Soil Requirements for Growing Sage
The best soil to use for sage is one that’s sandy or loamy and drains water well. The soil or compost should be slightly acidic with a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.0, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it. As with every herb or vegetable the better condition your soil is in, the better your sage will grow, so you’ll want to ensure that there are plenty of nutrients in the soil.
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The Best Multi Purpose Compost
When you buy compost for veg growing you want something that’s multi purpose and great quality. This compost is perfect for giving your veg the best nutrients.
So if you’re planting Sage directly into the garden with garden soil it’s best to prepare the ground first and a little fertilizer will help. Additionally, if you have a garden that is prone to waterlogging, then use some light gravel in the holes you create to sow sage seeds (there’s more on this below).
You don’t want to use too much fertilizer with sage, as this helps the herb to grow quicker, which means the flavour isn’t as strong.
What to avoid in soil or compost for Sage
The reason you’ll want sandy or loamy compost for Sage is that it needs soil that drains well. If it doesn’t drain well, then the roots of the sage plant will stay wet, they will likely rot and that’s the end of your sage plant. So keep it light, sandy and loamy. A good all-around compost will work.
If you’re planting directly into the ground, then aim for a well-drained bed. And if it is prone to waterlogging consider growing your sage in a pot, or adding a little sand or gravel to the planting area.
Compost for growing sage in pots
If you’re growing a perennial sage, then get a decent compost to start with – this multi-purpose compost is great. It comes with a lot of nutrients already in it. If you repot your sage you’ll want to change out the compost, or at least add new compost to the pot. Compost doesn’t last forever, as the nutrients get played out, so add more, or change it out if you repot.
How to Grow Sage from Seed in the Garden
If you’ve chosen to grow sage seeds in your garden. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to do so.
Step 1: Prepare the Ground
The first thing you’ll want to do is go out and get the correct compost or soil for your sage seeds. Regardless of whether you are going to grow sage directly in the ground or in pots and containers, you’ll want to make sure the soil is well-draining and sandy or loamy in texture. If you’ve got heavy soil in the garden, then add some grit to the hole before you put the seeds in.
Once you have that prepped, you can go ahead and plant your seeds.
Step 2: Poke a hole in The Soil and add Seeds
You can poke a hole in the soil that’s about half a centimetre deep. You can use all sorts of fancy implements, but an index finger works just as well. Then, you can add the seeds. Sprinkle a few in each hole (3-4) it would be rare for all of them to germinate.
Once the seeds are planted, you can cover the hole and water it.
Step 3: Wait For Germination
Once watered, you’ll need to wait for the seeds to germinate. Then, check on the seeds at least once a day and add a little water each time. While sage doesn’t need too much water once it is established, while it is young it will help during the early stages. You can expect to see results from your germinating sage seeds in about six weeks.
How to Grow Sage from Seed Indoors
It’s not too different growing sage from seeds indoors to outdoors.
Step 1: Get a large pot and prepare the compost
First, you’ll want to get yourself a large pot. Depending on the variety Sage can grow to be about 45 centimetres wide and grow up to 60 centimetres tall. If you’re going for the pot option then the sage plant won’t grow as big, but you’ll still need a pot that’s large enough to hold the plant without stunting its growth.
I’d aim for a pot that’s at least 20 centimetres wide and 25 centimetres deep. Make sure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom to allow the compost to drain any excess water effectively.
Step 2: Sprinkle Sage Seeds in the compost and cover
Now you can sprinkle in your seeds. You can do so on top of the soil and lightly cover them or poke a hole about half a centimetre deep in the soil. You can add a few seeds to the soil and cover them up. It’s not usual for all of the seeds to germinate, but some of them will.
Step 3: Water the Seeds and Wait
Once the seeds are in the compost, you can water them lightly every day to help them germinate. And now it’s time to wait for them to germinate, which should take about six weeks.
How to Grow Sage from Cuttings
To take a cutting from an existing sage plant you’ll want to select a mature and healthy plant to start with. Growing sage from cuttings is a tried and tested way of growing a new sage plant and it’s easy to get started. To start growing sage from a cutting you’ll need to prepare. You will need.
- Water
- A sharp knife
- A small pot with good compost
You can take a cutting from sage at any time, but the best time is in spring from a mature healthy plant. Also, the cutting should be from a non-flowering sprig. To take a sage cutting follow these instructions.
- Use a sharp life and cut off a shoot about 6 centimetres under the leaf crown.
- Strip off the leaves at the lower end, leaving at least 3 pairs of leaves, you’ll want around 5 centimetres of bare stem available.
- Now cut this stem at a 45-degree angle to maximise the centre of the sage cutting to the water and nutrients that you’re going to place it in.
You now have two options to get the root going on your new sage plant.
- Plant directly into a well-watered compost-filled small pot. While you are rooting the sage, you should water it well.
- Place in a pot of water on a sunny windowsill. I tend to use either jam jars or cut-down plastic water bottles so that I can see the roots growing. Once a good root structure has developed you can then plant the cutting in your small compost-filled pot.
Care and Maintenance for Growing Sage
Your sage plants will grow better if you deal with their specific needs. Here are a few details on the maintenance and care required to grow sage.
Sunlight Requirements for Growing Sage
First, sage wants medium to full, direct sunlight. So, you’ll need to position it to grow somewhere that it’s likely to get at least six hours of full sun every day. So, if you decide to plant your sage seeds in the garden, then be sure to choose a spot that gets maximum sunlight every day.
Sage will survive in partial shade, but it won’t thrive.
If you decide to grow your sage seeds inside in a pot, then you’ll need to move the pot to a room that gets plenty of sun. Depending on where you live and the season, this may be tricky to do, an LED grow lamp works well with sage, and it’s a good herb to grow in those hydroponic systems that have integral lights.
Depending on the variety of sage that you grow, then companion planting is important. Some varieties of sage grow quite tall, so you can plant it near another plant that doesn’t require much sun and is shorter than the sage. The sage will protect the other plant by shading it from the sun while absorbing all the sunlight it wants in the afternoon.
Watering Requirements for Growing Sage
Sage needs well-drained soil and it doesn’t like to have too much water. When you first plant the seeds, you can water your sage a little bit each day to help it sprout. However, once the seeds germinate, then you can begin to water them less.
When your sage is still in its early stages of growth, you’ll want to water it fairly often. However, once the plant is growing well and established in the garden, you can water it less frequently.
Be mindful that it’s easy to overwater sage, so give it a drink sparingly. If your sage’s roots remain too wet, then they can rot. It also doesn’t like to have soggy soil. Overwatering sage can kill the plant. And consider that the less water it gets, the stronger the flavour will be.
Overwintering Sage
If you’re growing a perennial sage, and are nervous about leaving your sage outside in the winter, there are ways to protect it. For example, you can add a cold frame to it so it’ll stay warm or bring it into a greenhouse if you have one. My guide to the best mini-greenhouses is here.
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This mini greenhouse is small, compact and easy to put up and store in the winter. It’s not expensive and its reasonably robust.
Alternatively, you can pot your sage plant and bring it inside your house for the winter. Then, if you continue to give it warm temperatures and proper sunlight, it should continue to thrive well.
Overall, sage is a cold-hardy plant. While it grows best in the summer months, it can at least stay dormant in the winter. To help your sage plant survive winter here are a few tips.
Preparing Sage for Winter
After your sage plant has flowered you’ll want to give the plant a prune to stop it from getting woody. There’s no point cutting back any old wood as it’s not going to regrow. It very much depends on the variety of sage that you’re growing as to whether it will need frost protection, some varieties of sage will survive, so long as the ground doesn’t become waterlogged.
It’s a good idea to sprinkle some slow–release fertilizer – like this one – at the end of summer and mix it in with the compost or soil. This will help your sage plant get through the winter.
Should you bring Sage inside in Winter?
One way to protect your sage plant in the winter is to bring it inside your house for the season. Is this necessary? No. There are other ways to protect the plant during the winter, and it can survive well being left outside. Inside your house, you can provide this herb with its normal growing conditions as if it were a normal growing season.
If your sage is growing in a pot outside in your garden, you simply need to pick it up and bring it inside a sunny room in your house. Alternatively, if your sage is growing in the ground in the garden, you can replant it in a pot with fresh potting soil.
However, there are other ways to protect your sage plant in the winter.
How to protect Sage in Winter – use cold frames
Cold frames are like shields, in that they cover the plant, protecting it from wind, rain, and snow. They can be reflective as well so that it absorbs the sunlight and keeps the plant warm even when the temperatures are colder.
You can buy cold frames online here, at your local garden centre, or you can create DIY ones.
How to protect Sage in Winter – use a greenhouse or polytunnel
If you have a greenhouse then you can put your sage plant in there for the winter. The greenhouse will protect your plant from various weather conditions, and it will also keep the plant warmer in the winter.
Companion Plants for Sage
When it comes to companion planting for sage you’ll want to place it near other plants with similar growing conditions. For example, put it next to plants that want the same type of soil and watering. I wrote specifically about sage companion planting here. Sage grows well with carrots, cauliflowers, tomatoes and strawberries.
How to Harvest Sage Leaves
Once your sage plant has reached maturity (about 75 to 80 days from seed). You can harvest perennial sage all year round. The best flavour comes before flowers appear and if you wait until either the evening or late morning then the oils will be concentrated in the sage leaves. If you’re growing annual or biennial sage, then you’ll want to harvest the leaves before they flower.
You can harvest leaves from sage in one of two ways.
First, you can simply pinch the leaves off directly from the steams. This is a good method to do if you plan on dehydrating or drying out the leaves. (you can read my guide on dehydrating sage here)
If you’re going to use the leaves directly in your cooking, then simply s snip off some of the stems from the sage bush. The stems are too woody, so you’ll only be using the leaves, but don’t leave a stem with no leaves on it. Simply snip them off. I also pinch off the flowers, which encourages the sage to put its energy into growing more leaves (because that’s what I’m growing it for!)
If you’re growing sage for the seeds, then you need to leave the flowers.
When to Harvest Sage
Sage takes about 75 to 80 days to reach full maturity. It’s at this time that you’ll be able to harvest your sage plant for the first time. You should be able to harvest from this plant at least once every week or every other week. You’ll want to give it enough time in between harvests for your herb to grow back.
Sage leaves are at their best BEFORE the plant flowers. At the end of summer, your sage will slow down its growth and virtually stop growing over winter, if you’ve chosen a perennial sage plant. There’s more on overwintering sage here.
How to Harvest Sage Seeds
Sage seeds come from the flowers and they will be ready to harvest once the blooms have turned brown and dried. The almost black seeds will fall easily from the dried flowers once they are ready to be harvested. If they don’t, then you can take the dried flowers in your hands crush them and then sort through for the seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions about Growing Sage
Got questions about growing sage? Or want to know more about how to grow sage from seed? Or growing sage from cuttings and we haven’t answered your questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about sage propagation and care below, or ask us yours in the comments.
Is growing Sage from seed easy?
The short answer is yes. Growing sage from seed is easy. Sage is both a hardy herb and an easy-to-grow herb. You will need to make sure you get the growing conditions right, the sunlight requirement and don’t overwater it. But other than that it doesn’t have a lot of requirements!
Can I grow sage from cut sage from the supermarket?
Yes. You can grow sage from bought cut sage. Make sure it’s fresh, follow the instructions for preparation above (I prefer to root the sage in water first if I do this) and off you go!
Will Sage Survive Winter?
The short answer is yes. Sage can survive over winter. In many places, sage will go dormant during the winter and stop growing altogether. However, it’s still alive and will come back in the springtime to continue growing.
Many varieties of sage are a perennial herb, which means they will grow back year after year.
Will Russian Sage survive winter?
Russian sage can also grow well in winter. This is another type of sage plant that may go dormant in the winter and then grow again in the spring.
Will Texas Sage survive winter?
Texas sage can also survive in winter. It’s not as cold-hardy as the other types of sages, but it can withstand temperatures as low as minus 9 Celsius
Do you need to feed or fertilise Sage plants?
So long as you have good quality soil or compost then you don’t need to add fertilizer or food to sage. It will tend to make the sage plant grow quicker, which means the leaves will lose some of their taste, and it becomes a little more subtle.
However, if you have a perennial plant you’ll want to make sure that you are adding nutrients – aka fertilizer or food so that the plant isn’t trying to survive on no nutrients!
Can Sage grow in Winter?
Yes, sage can grow well in winter. This plant is considered a cold-hardy herb, but mainly the growth slows if you have an outdoor plant. I’ve covered overwintering sage above.
How big does Sage grow?
Sage can be a rather large shrub. It’ll prefer to have plenty of elbow room in the garden or have a large pot with plenty of room. The size of sage depends also on the variety that you grow. Sage can get to about 60-75 centimetres in diameter. If you’re growing Russian sage, you can also expect this plant to spread out to the same size.
How tall does Sage grow?
The height that sage grows to depends on the variety. You can expect 30-60 centimetres for common garden sage. A Texas sage can grow to be as tall as 1.5 metres and you can expect Russian sage to reach a similar size.
How can you keep a sage plant small?
First, you can prune and harvest the plant as often as you can. Whether you harvest some of the leaves or simply trim the bush back. You won’t harm the shrub at all, and it’ll continue to grow. Pruning is also a great way to encourage new growth. Check on your plant often. If you notice some leaves turning yellow or pests have taken over a stalk or two, then you can trim it back, making the plant healthy again.
Alternatively, you can grow sage in a pot. As long as it’s big enough for your sage to grow comfortably without reaching its full size, this plant can thrive in a pot. You’ll get plenty of harvests from it without it taking up too much room.
The best part is that you can keep it in a pot inside your house or you can leave it out in the garden. So, it won’t run into any other plants in the garden, but you’ll still get the many benefits of companion planting.
Does Sage need full sun?
The short answer is yes and no. Sage does not need full sun. However, it does do better in full sun.
Will Sage grow in the shade?
Yes, but only partial shade. A sage plant requires medium to full sunlight to thrive. If you place it in a spot in the garden that receives medium sunlight but lots of shade in the afternoon, then that’s a good option. If your sage plant is in the shade the whole time then it’s not going to be a successful plant.
How long does Sage take to grow?
Sage takes about 75 to 80 days to reach its full maturity from seed.
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Final Words on How to Grow Sage
Sage is an easy and versatile herb to grow at home. You can plant sage from seeds in pots and containers or directly into the garden. You can grow sage from cuttings from other healthy plants or even from cut sage from the store. You can even grow sage hydroponically. Depending on where you want to grow your sage you can plant it at any time of the year.
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