Planting sage: how & where to plant
Whatever the time of year, sage brings a hint of the Mediterranean to both the garden and the kitchen. Discover how and where to plant sage.
Pots of common sage (Salvia officinalis) are sold all year round in garden centres and even supermarkets. But did you know that it is also possible to raise your own sage plants at home? Read on to learn more about growing common sage from seed and how to plant it correctly.
Contents
Sowing sage seeds
Sage is commonly propagated by taking cuttings from a mature sage plant. If you do not have one at hand, growing sage from seed is a very good alternative. It requires a little patience, as sage can take 7 to 21 days to germinate, and the seedlings develop slowly at first. That said, it is a rewarding process once your sage seedlings grow. For the best results follow these simple steps:
- Start sowing sage indoors from March.
- Fill a seed tray three quarters full with moist but not wet seed compost, and press it down lightly.
- Scatter the seed over the surface. Allow a little space between seeds. Make sure the seed has good contact with the compost.
- Cover with a layer of fine vermiculite. Sage needs light to germinate, so only a thin layer is recommended.
- Spray the surface lightly with water. If the surface becomes very dry before germination has occurred, spray again sparingly.
- Place the tray in a propagator, a greenhouse or on a windowsill. A temperature of 18 – 21 ˚C is best and a little heat from below supports better germination. Cover with transparent plastic or clingfilm and ventilate occasionally.
- When two true leaves form above the first seed leaves, prick out the seedlings into module trays with an individual cell volume of about 20cm³. Use only one seedling per cell. An air temperature of between 15 – 21 ˚C is best.
- When a root ball has developed in the cells, pot on each sage plant to individual 10cm pots. This re-potting process will produce sturdy and resilient plants.
Tip: sage seedlings require only a very low nutrient input. Use an organic growing medium like our Plantura Herb and Seedling Compost because it has an airy structure and less nutrients, allowing seedlings to develop strong roots without excess stimulation. It is also ideal when potting on your sage seedlings.
Growing sage
If you have succeeded in raising your very own sage seedlings and are wondering how to plant sage, you will be pleased to hear that the rest is very straightforward. When your sage plant reaches about 8cm in height and has a well-developed root ball, it is ready to plant outside. To accustom the sage to its new growing conditions, put it outside in a sheltered area for several hours every day for a week before planting.
The ideal location
Plant sage in a sunny, sheltered location with free-draining soil. Sage will thrive in poor, low-nutrient soil with an ideal pH level of 7. Sage is a Mediterranean plant and hates waterlogged conditions. If this is a problem in your garden, consider planting sage in a container or raised bed instead. Sage does not spread but it can become sprawling and woody as it ages. Find out how to keep it healthy and compact in our article on pruning sage.
- Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
- For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
When to plant
Late spring is the best time to plant sage in the garden. Make sure the risk of frost has passed or be ready to protect your sage with horticultural fleece on unexpectedly cold nights. If possible, choose a warm, still, and dry day for planting. If your seed-sown plant is still growing slowly, keep it in the pot and plant out the following season.
How to plant sage
When it comes to planting sage, clear any unwanted weeds from your chosen site and incorporate home-made garden compost or our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost to condition the soil and give your young plants the best start in their new location. Dig a hole that will accommodate the root ball of your plant. To remove the sage from the pot, invert it and support the sage stem at the soil surface whilst squeezing or tapping the pot gently. Place the plant in the hole, making sure the soil surface is level with the top of the compost in the pot. Fill in the excess soil around the root ball, firm it down gently and water in. Space multiple sage plants 30cm apart.
- Perfect for all your house, garden & balcony plants
- For strong & healthy plants as well as an active soil life
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Sage makes a great companion plant in the vegetable bed. The powerful aroma of sage is thought to deter pests from tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and beans (Phaseolus spp). In the herb bed, sage can be planted alongside companions that thrive in Mediterranean conditions, such as lavender (Lavandula spp.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
Growing sage in pots
Sage also grows very well in pots on a patio, balcony, or windowsill. For more information on growing sage in containers, see our article on transplanting and caring for sage.
To increase the supply of home-grown herbs to your kitchen, why not try designing and planting an herb garden? Our in-depth article tells you all you need to know.
