Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Plant Specifications

Planting And Care

Plant sage in medium to full sun. If you are growing sage indoors, place your pot near a sunny window. Sage is a fairly drought-tolerant herb, and even when the leaves look wilted, a little water perks the entire plant right up. Wait until the soil is dry to give it a thorough watering.

Light Requirement

• Sage does best in medium to full sun.
• It can also do well in containers or indoors – just be sure it’s near a sunny window if you’re growing it inside.

Soil

• Sage needs sandy, loamy, well-draining soil.
• You want a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth.

Watering

• For the first few weeks, you’ll probably need to water sage once or twice per week.
• The soil should be kept about as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
• Once the plant has developed a good root system, you can decrease watering to every week or two.
• Be careful not to overwater!

Application of Fertilizer

• If you’re planting sage as a perennial, fertilize the first year only with a low-nitrogen fertilizer.
• When you’re preparing the soil for planting, work a 5-10-10 fertilizer into the soil at the rate of half a pound per 100 square feet.

Re-potting

• Fill the pot no more than half full of potting soil, slightly bringing it up the sides of the pot.
• Gently press the soil to help it stay in place, and then lightly, but thoroughly, moisten the soil with water.
• Before repotting any herb, it’s important to carefully prepare the plant’s root ball.

Sage Uses