Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a beautiful perennial herb to grow. You can quickly grow sage from cuttings taken from an established plant, or you can opt to sow seeds indoors in pots.
When you hear the name sage, you may think of the beautiful herb with tiny blue flowers used in herbal teas and cooking, fresh and dried.
For others, sage is a popular garden perennial, grown for its beautiful colors and ability to attract bees and butterflies to the garden. One example would be purple sage (Salvia dorrii), also known as Desert Sage, with delicate purple flowers.
There are over 900 varieties of sage, from annuals to perennials and from herbs to smaller bushes and shrubs.
This article focuses on Salvia Officinalis, also known as Garden Sage, Common Sage, and even Culinary Sage. It is an excellent addition to any garden.
Grow sage from cuttings by propagation
Sage can be grown from seeds or by propagating sage cuttings. You can, of course, buy plants from your local grocery store or gardener – but where is the fun with that?
Start growing sage as early as February or March in pots indoors.
When your plants mature later in the summer, you can create multiple plants by propagating sage from cuttings from your new healthy plants. A good time to do this is in spring or early summer when the plants are full of energy and new growth.
Sage is a beautiful and fragrant plant; the more you have in the garden, the better!
It is all about getting started in time. When you start growing your sage from seed in spring, you can propagate sage from cuttings from your plants and place them throughout your garden.
How to propagate sage from cuttings
Like many other shrubby herbs (lavender, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, tarragon, and oregano), sage is ideally suited for propagating from cuttings. Two more favorites are basil and lemongrass.
We do not use rooting hormone when we propagate cuttings for our garden. We are yet to find a rooting hormone that is labelled as suitable for edible plants. Most rooting hormone powders write that they are safe to use from the second year of plant growth, but who wants to wait that long?
Taking cuttings from an established plant
Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut a young sage stem about 6 centimeters (2,5 inches) below the crown of the branch.
Gently pinch off all the lower leaves, leaving the cutting with 3-5 pairs of leaves.
Next, place the sage cutting in water to submerge the stem, not the leaves. Expect to wait 3-4 weeks for the cutting to develop roots.
You can also plant the cutting directly in potting soil. Water it carefully. It is essential to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet.
Transplanting the seedlings
Generally, transplant the sage cuttings when the seedlings are large enough to handle.
As soon as the average temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) and there is no more risk of frost, you can start hardening off your sage plant seedlings.
Start by exposing the plant to the outdoors for a few hours a day, then gradually increase the time spent outdoors over a week.
Plant the seedlings approximately 20 centimeters (8 inches) apart. If planting in rows (drills), keep the rows about 30 centimeters (12 inches) apart.
When starting sage plants from seeds, it will take the plant a couple of years to mature. A mature sage plant reaches a height of approximately 50 centimeters (20 inches).
Transplant shock and what to do
When growing sage from cuttings, there is always a risk of transplant shock when you move the sage cuttings. After all, you disturb the plant by moving it to an entirely new growing environment.
However, you can do things to help new plants cope with the move. The base of a mature plant is woody, but the root system is still delicate. Handle the root system with care and make sure the root system is moist throughout the move.
Also, always water the plant thoroughly when planted in the new location. Sage must be planted in well-draining soil to thrive. When transplanting, water more than you are used to, ensuring that the root system gets all the moisture it needs to get established.
Where to plant the sage seedlings
The sage plant will thrive in a warm location with full sun. Make sure to plant in a bed with good drainage and add a liquid feed twice during the growing season.
Plant care & how to water sage
Sage likes to be watered regularly. Do not stress about it, but try to keep the soil moist.
Regularly does not mean often, I have found that my sage plants thrive when I let them almost dry out before I water them again.
We recommend using a soil moisture meter to alert you when it is time to water. Insert it into the soil and wait a few seconds for the reading. And always measure in at least a couple of different spots and levels, as moisture can differ inside a pot or container.
Another method is to insert a finger into the potting soil, and if it feels moist two knuckles deep, you wait another day. It is time to water when it is difficult to push a finger into the soil.
And again, make sure to plant the sage in well-draining soil. The roots do not like being soaked for long periods.
Pruning the sage plant (perennials)
Never prune sage in the fall or winter. Instead, do all the pruning in the spring before the new growth starts.
Cut back the stems leaving about 5 centimeters (2 inches). Pruning the plant will help new shoots form and make the plant grow bushier and more beautiful.
How to harvest sage
Like many other herbs, sage prefers to be harvested a little at a time. You can harvest leaves and flowers and use them in cooking or preserve them for future use.
A rule of thumb when harvesting sage is to harvest as the plant and leaves develop. When the sage plant starts to bloom, the leaves will lose flavor.
If you are harvesting sage to preserve by drying or freezing, harvest the leaves before blooming to maximize flavors.
How to look after sage growing indoors
Sage is a relatively easy herb to care for indoors.
Ensure you keep the plant in a cool and bright place during winter and always use pots with drainage holes.
Sage plants do not want their roots to be soaked in water for long periods.
Prepare outdoor perennial sage plants for winter
The sage plant is a perennial and needs to be covered in winter if there is a risk of frost.
We prune and cut last year’s plants in spring and replace them after approximately 2-3 growing seasons.
Pruning should, however, be avoided during fall and winter. Pruning the plant late in the year risks overexposing the plant to the elements and rainwater, causing the plant’s root system to rot.
If you are growing sage in pots, you can move them inside a greenhouse or conservatory.
You can also apply mulch on top of the soil up to the pot’s rim. This will help insulate the soil and protect the roots. Also, a larger pot with more soil will add a protective layer to the root system.
We also recommend wrapping blankets, bubble wrap, or any other protective material around the pots for extra insulation.
Never leave the pots on the ground but elevate them to create a protective cushion of air between the pot and the cold ground. Lifting the pots off the ground also ensures they get good air circulation even during the winter when they prefer a dry environment.
Finally, avoid watering too much during winter.
Sage is more than sage tea
Sage cocktails are a great way to use sage for parties. A sage cocktail is a fresh, fruity cocktail with vivid, earthy contrast. It makes a delicious, unexpected welcome drink at any party.
Adding this herb’s distinctive fragrance and flavor to your cocktails will give you a fantastic taste that pairs well with gin or non-alcoholic berry cocktails.
Whatever type of party you are throwing, cocktails can be offered as welcome drinks or later in the evening after dessert and coffee. Either way, you may want to provide both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties for those who do not enjoy gin or martini.
As gin and martini are the preferred pairing partner for this under-estimated herb.
Making cocktails at home has never been easier. After all, who doesn’t like to think they can shake with the best of them and awaken our inner mixology and bar-tending skills?
There are some great cocktail sets to choose from for a small investment. They come with all the necessary items to create super cocktails at home.
How to make sage cocktails
Most great herb cocktails start with creating a simple syrup.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup whole sage leaves, washed and dried on a paper towel
Preparation
- Place the water in a saucepan over a gentle heat
- Add the sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until dissolved
- Bring to a simmer
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the leaves.
- Place a lid on the saucepan and let the sage infuse for about 2 hours
- Strain the mixture and discard the leaves
- Keep the syrup in an airtight jar or bottle in the fridge
- The syrup will stay fresh for about two weeks
Our Best Sage & Martini Herb Cocktail
Ingredients
- 30 ml (1 oz) Martini
- 30 ml (1 oz) sage simple syrup
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice, strained
- 4 fresh sage leaves
- Sparkling cloudy lemonade
- Ice
Preparation
- Mix the ingredients and pour them into a glass over ice.
- Add the leaves as garnish.
- Serve immediately.
Our favorite Gin and Sage Cocktail
Ingredients
- 30 ml (1 oz) gin (we prefer to use Pink Gin for extra sweetness)
- 30 ml (1 oz) sage simple syrup
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, strained
- 4 fresh sage leaves
- 30 ml (1 oz) Cloudy apple juice
- Sparkling ginger ale
- Ice
Preparation
- Mix the ingredients and pour them into a glass over ice.
- Top up with a splash of sparkling ginger ale. Add leaves as garnish.
- Serve immediately
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take sage to grow to mature size?
Propagating sage from cuttings will save you time, and you should see a mature plant in 1-2 years.
When growing sage from seeds, it takes 2-3 years for the plant to reach mature size.
Ideally, we plant the seeds indoors around February/March and use grow or plant lights during the darker periods.
Sage seeds take 2-3 weeks to germinate.
Many home gardeners prefer to grow sage from cuttings as it speeds up the growing process.
Does sage need light to germinate?
Yes, sage seeds do require sunlight to germinate. If planting indoors, you may need to use plant lights for seeds to germinate.
Can I root sage cuttings in water?
Yes, you can propagate sage by simply placing your sage cuttings in a glass of water and submerging about 6 centimeters (2,5 inches) of the stem.
The sage cuttings will take 3-4 weeks to start sprouting roots.
When you have a decent set of mature roots, transplant the cutting into a pot with potting soil.
How long does it take for sage cuttings to root in water?
The sage cuttings will take approximately 3-4 weeks to develop roots. Place several cuttings in the same container and add fresh water as needed until the roots develop.
When the roots are at least 5 centimeters (2 inches) long, the cuttings are ready to be potted in soil.
