As sage plants get older, they can get woody and tough. } To Kumeyaay peoples who were in the area around modern-day San Diego, it was known as shlhtaay. Freeze leaves or stalks on a tray, then move the leaves into a zippered bag or container. While in modern times, black sage is spreading northward and taking over the habitats where white sage once grew, it is not used in precisely the same way. The best way to feed sage is with compost. It grows up to 3-5 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide; and is covered with fine hairs for a fuzzy character, and produces colorful dark to light purple flowers in the spring. Amongst Californian peoples, white sage is occasionally referred to as grandfather sage, as it grows to be so much larger in its elder form than any of the other sages in California. This may encourage the plants to flowermore. Its done very well. The plants aromatic leaves can be chopped and added to cooked dishes as a flavoring. From a few feet away, the white flowers sometimes appear to have a purplish tint. event : evt, Try to have your lowest set of leaf nodes about 1/2 beneath the soils surface, and press the soil in to hold the stem in place. Trim or cut plants back in autumn to renew foliage for the following season. Growing Sage: The Complete Guide to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Sage By Craig Taylor Print On any given year, you'll find me growing sage all over my property because it's one of my favorite herbs. However, if finding seeds is difficult in your area, getting a cutting from someone with an established plant may be easier. This year it bloomed profusely & beautifully. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! Sage can be harvested on an as-needed basis, clipping just above the spot where two leaves meet. Notice the reddened leaves, a sign of drought stress. Resist the temptation to over-fertilize; the sage might grow a little faster, but its flavor will be less intense. Ill share a dozen of my favorite methods on tomorrows preservation post. Sage plants arent heavy feeders, and too much fertilizer can result in weaker flavor. Cut stems the following morning after the dew has dried. How to Plant, Grow and Harvest Sage | The Kitchn Try not to put multiple plants any closer together than about 18 so that they have plenty of room to grow. Extremely drought-tolerant. Here is your complete guide to growing sage. Alpine Cleveland Sage has large blue flowers, is very floriferous, loved by hummingbirds, and is also very drought tolerant. Sage does not grow well where winters are wet or springs are moist and cold. Thank you. Learn to grow Russian sage, which provides a great contrast to other plants with its dramatic wispy texture and blue color. To repot, remove the entire plant from the current pot and move it to a bigger container with fresh potting mix. Russian Sage Care Russian sage is a tough plant that needs little care. You can add a moisture-absorbing dessicant packet if you would like to keep it dry. Use an insecticidal soap to remove them if you spot bugs on your sage plants. Most growth above the snow line was injured or killed. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Mix into salads! The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. It's best to pick sage throughout the growing season, removing individual leaves rather than plucking stems. It can take up to six weeks for germination to occur. In fact, the use of white sage was only truly common traditionally amongst the tribes in the desert southwest, since it did not grow elsewhere. Then, grasp the stem end with one hand, and carefully gather the leaves up against the stems with the leaf ends pointing towards the top of the bundle. A more accurate term would be smoke cleansing. It spreads by rhizomes and can form colonies up to 1.2 meters in diameter. Its long stems come from a central root mass and last throughout one growing season before drying and dying back. Season of Bloom: Late spring Light: Full . Wet soils can befatal. The leaves are approximately 1feet long at the base, 5feet long higher on the plant. Youll almost never achieve maximum size in a pot. It grows 2 feet tall and wide. Since white sage is indigenous to southern California, its more difficult to grow it in regions where the weather gets colder. After 4-6 weeks, gently tug on the cutting to see if theres any resistance. 20 min read. Since it prefers well-drained soil, sage is a perfect candidate for container gardening. Stop harvesting about two months before your projected first fall frost, so the plant doesnt put out tender new growth that can be damaged. Q: How much sage can I get off one plant? Modern cultivars include leaves with purple, rose, cream, and yellow in many variegated combinations. Zones 5-8, Salvia officinalis 'Icterina' is a colorful alternative to common sage and can be grown in an herb garden, a flower border, or a container. It's indispensable in cooking, but there's much more to this wonderful plant than just dinner. Autumn Sage can be used in container gardens, planters or as a border for landscape color. forms: { Using standard garden potting soil is fine. } Listen to this post on the Epic Gardening Podcast, Subscribe to the Epic Gardening Podcast on iTunes. And there are, in fact, other indigenous sages! Sprinkle your seeds across the surface of the soil, and then mist them with a water bottle. Once your plants have started to grow, water no more than once a week, but only if the soil feels dry. To harvest white sage seeds, wait until the plants have flowered and the flowers are beginning to dry. In suitable growing conditions it will form a mat up to 15 ft. wide while remaining about 1 ft. high. Sun and Soil Requirements This desert plant needs full sun - as much as it can get. The leaves were used as a spice in cooking, but also offered medicinal value both as a poultice or a tincture as well. Generally, replacing sage plants every 3 to 4 years or so is a good idea if you plan to use them for culinary purposes because plants become less productive later. Be sure to water the young plants regularly until they are fully grown so that they dont dry out. For medicinal or food purposes, white sage could be harvested at any time of year, but its flavor or medicinal properties would vary. Vividly colored blossoms pop against the gray-green foliage of nasturtium for an impressive effect in a garden. In cold regions, flowering begins in mid summer and continues until frost. There are also other plants referred to as sage which arent sages at all. Read on to learn when and how you should harvest your sage, how to dry and store it properly, and how to make sure we dont lose it forever. Another drying method is to spread individual stems horizontally on a screen. Sage is commonly used in dishes containing pork, cheese, and beans, and it can be blended with cheese or cottage cheese to make a sandwich spread. Note that drying intensifies the flavor; use dried sage sparingly. } Source: scott.zona, Happy little white sage plants. For now, feel free to continue reading. Cut away the newly rooted plant from the main plant and transfer elsewhere within the garden or to a large pot. Sage can be reproduced by layering, by division, or by using stem cuttings. Common garden pests including slugs, spittle bugs and spider mites also might affect plants. Translation? Add bright summer-long color by growing this sage with 'Oranges and Lemons' gaillardia. Sage grows best in sandy-loam soil but does not require regular feeding. Marjoram leaves also are smooth, unlike sages fuzzy texture. Remember, white sage can get to be a huge plant when its in the ground, but its restricted a bit when its in a pot. For other greens to use in your cuisine, see the. Once rooted, replant. That same eucalyptol content made it extremely helpful during times of sickness for clearing congestion. However, it can grow in partial shade instead of full shade. Canary Island sage is both a large and colorful plant. Its fast growth and attractiveness to hummingbirds make it key part of this woodland style landscape. Growing Zones White sage is native to the southwestern United States, zones 8-9, so as you'd expect, it prefers sunny, warm conditions. White Sage Plant: Growing Guide, Smudging, and Seeds It puts down deep taproots to search for its own water supply. ), California Sagebrush (keep them separate so you dont confuse them). As a Mediterranean plant, it mixes well with rosemary, lavender, and basil. Sun: Plant sage in medium to full sun. Why not plant an herb garden this year! Give sage a side dressing of compost tea twice during the growing season. Description Sage leaves are covered with fine hairs called trichomes Cultivars are quite variable in size, leaf and flower color, and foliage pattern, with many variegated leaf types. Make a special mix of 1/3 perlite, 1/3 medium-grained sand, and 1/3 seed starting compost. About Salvia Growing garden sage (salvia officinalis) is so economical and time-saving. Take multiple stems of sage and group them together, tying a piece of cotton string around the stem ends to gather them together. I live in southwestern Minnesota and I was gifted a berggarten sage which I planted in a 17 plastic pot. Sage can be planted in the spring or fall, and it has a moderate growth rate. Pruning can help combat this. Cover seeds with a smattering of soil spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. Source: briweldon, A wild white sage plant. In reply to Winter in Minnesota by Laurie (not verified). Salvia sclarea, theclaryorclary sage, is abiennialor short-lived herbaceousperennial rows 3 to 4feet in height, with thick square stems that are covered in hairs. Before we can discuss the uses of white sage amongst tribes, its important to realize that it is not even close to the only type of sage that was used traditionally by tribal peoples. Your planting site must have well-draining soil and receive lots of sunlight. If this doesnt describe the soil in your region, opt for a cactus growing soil blend. Cut it where two leaves meet. Older, established sage plants, especially large ones, are much more difficult to move. Terracotta pots especially complement . The leaves are commonly used fresh or dried in cooking and add an earthy and slightly peppery flavor. Don't overwater, but keep soil moist. The color range has been further enhanced by breeding, resulting in many cultivars over the years.