Sage care & transplanting: the best tips

Charlotte

I am a commercial grower, specialising in the small-scale production of organic vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers. I trained as a horticulturalist and then worked on traditional farms in Europe and the UK before establishing my own business, growing quality produce for local distribution and with an emphasis on soil health, biodiversity and social responsibility. I think growing, cooking and sharing food makes life happier and healthier, and I enjoy using my knowledge to show others that it can be simple too.

Favourite fruit: figs and redcurrants
Favourite vegetables: artichokes and kale

Caring for sage is simple. Learn how to care for your sage plant by following these straightforward steps so that you can enjoy one of the medicinal and culinary marvels of the garden every day of the year.

Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is part of the Lamiaceae family, which includes other popular garden herbs such as rosemary and thyme. In summer, it is a favourite with bees and other beneficial insects. There is a striking range of common sage varieties to choose from, and whilst they vary in colour, scent, shape and size, their care requirements are all very similar.

Contents

Sage care
- Fertilising sage
- Watering sage
Repotting sage

Sage care

Although most common sage varieties have similar care requirements, whether you care for your sage plant in a garden bed or a container makes a difference. Sage loves the sun but can also withstand temperatures as low as -15 °C. Protection during winter is rarely necessary for its survival. However, several varieties such as the purple ‘Purpurascens’ and the variegated ‘Tricolor’ are slightly less robust and struggle sooner in cold conditions. If you notice this, cover your sage bush with a layer of horticultural fleece. Cocoon potted sage plants in bubble wrap or bring indoors if space allows. A location that is protected from rain but still receives light is best. Plants that are covered for more than a few days will appreciate some ventilation. Remove their protective layer now and again to dry it out and allow fresh air to circulate around the plant.

It is also important to keep your sage plant free from weeds. A great way to suppress weeds is to add a layer of straw or gravel around the base of the plant. This also helps to retain moisture but remember that it can provide a cosy hiding place for slugs and snails as well.

Three different sage varieties — Beautiful sage is equally at home in an herb garden or an ornamental border [Photo: Robert N Brown/ Shutterstock.com]

Fertilising sage

Sage is a light feeder. Once established in the ground, you do not need to fertilise your sage plant again. In fact, too many nutrients can make sage leggy, less intense in flavour and more vulnerable to pests. Even sage in the limited environment of a container can get what it needs through regular repotting with fresh substrate. If your potted sage is chronically lacklustre despite the correct care, then a dose of fertiliser can help. A liquid feed such as a seaweed solution or our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food can be used to feed potted sage. Liquid feed is easy to apply to potted sage and is quickly absorbed. Mix it with water at a ratio of 1:200 and apply directly at the soil surface every 2 months between March and October.

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Watering sage

Sage must not be overwatered and will deteriorate if left to sit in wet, waterlogged soil. Exactly how often to water sage will vary according to the conditions and is sometimes a case of trial and error. However, being a sun loving Mediterranean species and extremely drought tolerant, sage generally requires little in the way of irrigation. It gets most of the water it needs from rainfall alone and only in prolonged drought will sage need your help. When the top few centimetres of the soil around the sage becomes dry, give a good soaking directly to the soil. If possible, water it in the early morning. In persistently dry conditions, once every 2 to 3 weeks is usually about right. You may notice that sage in containers dries out more quickly. In this case increase your watering frequency slightly. The soil surface must be moist but not soggy. If you notice that the top of the soil is cracking or shrinking away from the edge of the pot, then it is time to water the sage plant, as extremely dry compost can become hydrophobic and difficult to rehydrate.

Repotting sage

If given sufficient bed space to grow at the time of planting, it is not necessary to transplant a mature sage bush once it is established in the garden. If you are moving house, take cuttings from a beloved plant rather than uprooting the whole plant. Sage plants become ragged and woody over time, so creating new life from older plants by taking regular cuttings is a useful and rewarding habit to develop.

blue salvia in sunshine — You can propagate new sage plants via cuttings [ Photo: apisit/ Shutterstock.com]

If you grow sage in a container, you may wonder when the right time is to repot your sage. If the plant becomes too top heavy for the pot or the roots are emerging from the bottom and wrapping themselves around the inside, then it is time for an upgrade. On the other hand, a root ball which does not hold the shape of the pot when removed and loses a large amount of compost in the process is not yet in need of a new home. Repotting your sage every 1 to 2 years is usually sufficient.

Tip: bigger is not always better. A small plant in a large pot can suffer from ‘overpotting’. The amount of compost required to fill the pot may need more water than a small sage can cope with. Look out for discolouration, stunted growth and wilting. When repotting, use a new pot that is no more than 5cm larger than the previous one.

repotting a sage plant — Care for your sage by repotting when it outgrows its container [Photo: viki2win/ Shutterstock.com]

Whether you are transplanting young cuttings or have an older sage to repot, remember that it is not a hungry plant and needs a free draining growing medium. A low nutrient compost, such as our Plantura Organic Herb and Seedling Compost, contains fewer nutrients than general purpose composts. Its loose, airy structure also enhances drainage, especially if you pop a few crocks in the bottom of the new pot. A terracotta pot with a hole in the bottom is ideal because its porous nature absorbs excess moisture in case the compost becomes too wet. Add enough substrate to cover the crocks, and then lower in the sage plant, filling in with more substrate as you go and ending with a light top dressing. The transplanted sage must not sit too low in the new pot; aim for the soil line to rest slightly below the lip. Water in the plant directly to the soil surface, avoiding the foliage; add extra compost if it sinks in the process.