Sage

Planting sage

Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, or plant nursery starts in spring. Established plants are perennial in roughly zone 4 or 5 and warmer.

Planting details

• Transplant after the last frost
• Spacing: 18 to 24 inches
• Seed depth: about 1/8 inch

Growing requirements

Sage wants full sun and well-drained, average soil. It struggles in wet, rich beds and performs best on the drier side of the garden.

Harvesting and care

Harvest leaves anytime, taking no more than a third of the plant at once. Prune lightly in spring to remove winter-damaged tips and keep the mound compact.

Common mistakes

• Wet soil, especially over winter, which rots the crown
• Cutting plants back hard in fall, which weakens them before cold weather
• Keeping old woody plants too long; replace every 4 to 5 years as stems turn bare

Companion plants

Sage grows well beside rosemary, thyme, and cabbage-family crops. Its summer flowers are a long nectar source for bees.