Growing Sage, also Common Sage

Salvia officinalis : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S S            
        T T T          
        P P P          

(Best months for growing Sage in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

May: Best grown in large pots or planter boxes as sage cannot cope with very wet soil.

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in approximately 18 months. Time reduced if grown from cuttings.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rosemary, Cabbage and Carrots
  • Common sage
  • Sage flowers

Sage grows well from seeds but it is slow developing.

One plant will usually be enough for the average household.

A plant grown from a cutting will be ready to use in about 3 months.

Stake or protect from strong winds, otherwise the plant may snap off the main stem.

Sage will grow almost anywhere as long as it is in full sun for most of the day. Sage does not like soil that is moist all the time - avoid frequent watering even in the middle of the summer.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Sage

The leaves are used to flavour stuffing and meat dishes.
Sage keeps well if dried.

Your comments and tips

05 Jul 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My sage has developed a white spot on the leaves. What is it? Should I be concerned? Am I watering the plants too often.? John
06 Jul 23, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I tend to like using POWDERED Sulphur for powdery mildew. It is safe to use right up to the day of harvest ( EXCEPT ON GRAPES THAT ARE intended for wine - then 21 days before harvest). It can be sprinkled on dry -- but my preferred method is to dilute in water and spray. Ultimately you need to increase the air circulation around your plant. You might be over wetting the plant at times when it has difficulty drying -- if you have good air circulation this should not be an issue. Try watering BEFORE sun up -- then when the sun shines on your plant it will dry the plant. Mildews tend to stick better to damp leaves... so dry leaves in a windy area are less prone to powdery mildew. Additionally SAGE is considered a Mediterranean herb - and does tend to like dry conditions -- so the ground should dry out between watering -- watering well once every two weeks should be fine for an ESTABLISHED SAGE PLANT (seedlings need to be watered more frequently)... this might not be possible, because you may have plants that need more water nearby.
05 Jul 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It sounds like it is a case of powdery mildew, which is a fungal disease, which are wind-borne spores. Best to remove the affected leaves. Treating the plant with an organic fungicide that contains potassium bicarbonate could be beneficial.
07 Jun 23, Stephen Gunthorpe (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My Grandmother had an old tin bucket with a herb she used in Stuffing. She was the best cook ever. this plant has a thick leaf about 1/8 inch or more thick with a green colour. The leaves were about 30 mm long and 25 mm wide, I think it was a bit hairy. I am trying to identify it but this was 60 years ago. Can anyone provide me with some idea of what it was Thank You Stephen g
09 Jun 23, Sara (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Was it mother of herb (Coleus amboinicus)? It's a semi-succulent with broad, hairy leaves.
12 Apr 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my sage the leaf curls and starts going brown ...i can take the leaves off yet not much left of the plant .i think they are spider mites .any solution on a natural spray i can use .we use all the time ...
10 Sep 22, Cindy Rickard (Australia - tropical climate)
I am moving to Stanthorpe very soon and wanting to make smudge sticks. Would love tips on growing white sage, rosemary, lavender please? How are you going with it Gail and Geraldine?
14 Sep 22, Anonymous (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Read the notes here about growing each of these and do some research on the internet - growing in cool climate zone.
21 Nov 20, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
We've been growing this sage from a plant ,with fabulous results, ie its growing faster than we are using it. But it has now flowered and we're not sure on what to do, cut the flower off or leave on ,cut the whole plant back or something else. Looking forward to your advice and recommendations. Thank you.
04 Nov 23, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I recently read that sage is a perennial, so when flowering occurred I left it for some time, enjoying the pretty colour, then trimmed off those sections.By then I was most happy to be getting a lot of lovely new growth!
Showing 1 - 10 of 42 comments

We've been growing this sage from a plant ,with fabulous results, ie its growing faster than we are using it. But it has now flowered and we're not sure on what to do, cut the flower off or leave on ,cut the whole plant back or something else. Looking forward to your advice and recommendations. Thank you.

- Steve

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