This article will answer the big question, “can I freeze sage leaves?” Then, we’ll detail different ways you can freeze this herb and how to freeze it.

After, we’ll share a step-by-step guide for our favorite way to freeze sage leaves.

Finally, we’ll discuss how long it lasts and how to thaw it out for cooking.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Can You Freeze Fresh Sage Leaves?

You may be wondering, “can I freeze fresh sage?”

The short answer is yes. You can freeze sage leaves. In fact, freezing sage leaves is a great way to preserve this herb for much longer.

There are many pros and cons to freezing sage leaves. Also, there are a few different ways to go about freezing this herb.

Options For Freezing Sage

If you’re looking to keep this herb for a much longer period, then you can certainly add it to the freezer.

The freezer will make the sage taste stronger, but it’ll begin to lose its flavor after about six months or so.

Regardless, you can get creative when it comes to freezing sage. For example, you can do the following:

• Freeze full fresh sage leaves or crushed sage leaves in a plastic bag
• Place fresh full sage leaves or crush sage leaves in ice cube trays with water
• Put the fresh full sage leaves or crushed sage leaves in an ice cube tray with cooking oil
• Mix fresh sage herbs (full leaves or crushed) with other herbs in an ice cube tray with water, oil, or put them in a plastic bag

You don’t need to stick with the one freezing method, either. For example, if you have a lot of sage leaves, you can freeze some in a bag and others in an ice cube with water.

For example, if you know what you’re going to use the sage for, you can freeze them accordingly so that it’s easier for you to add them to your recipes later.

How To Freeze Sage Leaves

There are a few different methods you can use to freeze sage. As mentioned above, you can freeze sage alone, in water, oil, or mixed with other herbs.

One way you can freeze sage is to simply put the full sage leaves in a plastic bag or freezer-safe bag. Then, you can place it in the freezer.

That’s all there is to it. You don’t need to add paper towels to the bag or anything. The leaves on their own will be fine in the bag.

However, be sure to lay the sage leaves down in a single layer. Otherwise, if the sage leaves overlap one another, then they’ll get stuck together, and it’ll be harder for you to take them out when you need it.

One of the best ways you can freeze sage is to do so using an ice cube tray.

How To Freeze Fresh Sage Leaves In Ice Cubes

Let’s talk about how to freeze sage herbs as ice cubes. You can customize this method as much as you want.

Step 1: Prepare Your Fresh Sage Leaves For Freezing

First, you’ll want to make sure your fresh sage leaves are ready for freezing. If the leaves are not already picked off the stalk, pinch and pull them off the sage plant’s stem.

Whether you harvested your fresh sage from your garden or bought the fresh leaves from your grocery store, you’ll want to wash the leaves.

Simply run the leaves under cool, running water within your hand or in a colander. Then, dry them thoroughly by patting them with a paper towel or using a salad spinner.

Now, you can leave the leaves whole or cut them into smaller pieces. Alternatively, you can chop them up into tiny pieces so that it’s easier to fit into the ice cube tray.

We recommend chopping them up so that you can measure out the amount as well.

Step 2: Measure The Amount Of Sage To Add To The Ice Cubes

Before adding your chopped sage leaves to the ice cube spots, measure out the amount you want in each spot.

You don’t need to measure it out if you don’t want to, but adding one or two tablespoons of sage to each spot is a good idea.

This way, when you need to pop out the ice cubes and use the sage for cooking, you know how much you have in each cube. In addition, it’ll be easier for you to toss the sage into a recipe without needing to thaw out the ice cube and measure out the amount of sage you put in there.

Step 3: Add Water, Oil, Or Other Herbs To The Ice Cubes

Once you’ve measured out your sage and put them in each ice cube spot in the tray, now it’s time to fill it with something else.

First, you can add other herbs with it if you want. Then, when you need them later for a dish, you can add mixed herbs to the recipe.

Whether you add other herbs or not, you need to decide whether to add water or oil for your sage leaves to freeze in.

Water will allow your sage to freeze well, and you can toss an ice cube into any recipe, such as a soup or stew.

On the other hand, you can measure out cooking oil. Then, if you need the sage for flavoring of another dish, you can toss it in a pan. The sage will thaw in the pan with cooking oil, killing two birds with one stone for your recipe.

If you decide to add cooking oil rather than water, make sure to measure it out. For example, if you have certain recipes in mind, you can measure the amount of cooking oil and sage leaves to complete part of the recipe.

Step 4: Once Frozen, Store The Cubes In A Bag

Once your sage leaves are frozen solid in the ice cube tray, you don’t want to leave them there. If left in the tray, they could get freezer burn.

So, after about 24 hours or so, check on them. If they’re frozen, you can pop them out of the ice cube tray and put the cubes in a plastic bag. Then leave them in the freezer.

Label the plastic bag to know how long the sage has been frozen.

If you have more, now you can use the ice cube tray again to freeze more sage or other herbs.

Should You Freeze Dried Sage?

Did you know that dried sage leaves can last for one to three years? As long as they’re appropriately stored in a clear glass container or jar with a tightly closed lid, your dried sage does not need to be frozen.

You can undoubtedly add dried sage to ice cube trays if you plan to use them for a soup or stew later on, especially since you can freeze sage in oil rather than water.

However, it’s easier to store it in a container rather than the freezer.

How Long Does Frozen Sage Last?

Freezing this herb will keep its flavor strong for up to six months.

However, sage can last for about a year in the freezer.

When putting sage leaves in the freezer, be sure to label the bag or whatever you freeze it in with the current date. Then, you can keep track of how long the sage leaves may last.

How To Thaw Sage (And Use It)

Depending on how you freeze your sage leaves (and what you need to use them for), you won’t need to worry about thawing them at all.

For example, if you froze sage leaves in an ice cube and you need it for a soup or stew, then you can put the ice cube directly into the pot while it’s cooking.

It won’t hurt the recipe or the flavor of the dish to put the ice cube directly in the pot.

Alternatively, if you didn’t freeze your sage in an ice cube tray or you need the herb for meat, then you can thaw it as you would anything else.

For instance, you can leave the sage on the counter over a paper towel or plate. Then, when it’s melted enough, you can add your sage to whatever recipe you’re currently cooking.

However, if it’s in an ice cube, you can leave it in a bowl or plate and wait for it to melt. Then, you can simply take the sage leave and add it to the other ingredients.

Luckily, you won’t need to wait too long for it to thaw. If it takes a while, you can rinse it under some warm water. It won’t harm the herb at all.

Final Words

Freezing fresh sage leaves is a great idea to have them last longer. In addition, it’s a great way to pre-measure this herb for specific recipes and have it at the ready when you begin cooking.

Luckily, freezing this herb is simple and easy to do.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out how to dry sage and here for what to plant with sage. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here or find out how ground sage compares to dried sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How To Freeze Sage [Full Guide] appeared first on Gardening Chief.

But what grows well with sage?

This article will explain some of the best plants to grow alongside sage.

But first, we’ll discuss what companion planting is and the benefits of companion planting.

Then, we’ll go more in-depth about what to look for when companion planting with sage. After, we’ll explain some fruits, vegetables, and other herbs that are excellent choices to companion plants with sage. 

Finally, we’ll explain what other plants to avoid placing near sage and whether or not companion planting can work with sage being grown in a pot. 

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is a strategic way to grow the plants in your garden.

For example, you can place like-minded plants near each other so that they’ll help one another grow well and thrive.

When we say like-minded plants, we mean plants with similar growing conditions—for instance, similar soil, watering needs, and sunlight needs.

What Are The Benefits Of Companion Planting?

Companion planting is one of the best ways to help your plants grow in your garden.

The biggest benefit is that you’ll have a full garden filled with luscious plants that have grown to their full potential.

You can provide all you can to your plants when it comes to watering and sunlight, but then the plants need to root themselves and grow on their own.

Companion planting allows your plants to support one another so the whole garden can thrive.

What To Consider When Looking For What To Plant With Sage?

Believe it or not, companion planting isn’t as simple as placing plants near one another in the garden. First, they need to be compatible.

This means that you’ll want to place plants beside one another with similar growing conditions. Also, some plants are great pollinators to attract certain insects and keep pests away.

Growing Conditions

First, let’s discuss the growing conditions.

Sage prefers to have well-draining soil that’s sandy or loamy. Also, they don’t need a whole lot of water to survive. When first planted and in the early stages of growth, you’ll want to provide daily water. However, sage doesn’t need to be watered every day once it’s mature.

In addition, sage thrives on full, direct sunlight. So you’ll want to place it in a spot in the garden that gets about six hours of sunlight per day.

With this in mind, you’ll want to plant sage near other plants that have similar growing conditions.

For example, plant it beside other plants that prefer well-draining soil and little water.

On the other hand, sage can grow about two feet tall. So, you can plant it around other plants that thrive on a lot of sun. Or, you can place it in front of another plant that prefers to get little sunlight.

This way, when the sun is at its peak, your sage will absorb the sunlight and protect the other plant with shade. 

Pollinators And Pests

In addition, sage is a great pollinator. It can attract butterflies, bees, and other insects that help pollinate the other plants to allow them to thrive.

For example, you can have more than one sage plant. One for harvesting and another to let the flowers bloom. This will certainly attract more pollinators to your garden.

On the other hand, sage repels certain pests from the garden. For instance, growing sage near cabbage will repel certain pests that feed off of cabbage. Also, the sage can help boost the flavor of your cabbage.

Best Companion Plants For Sage

Let’s talk about some of the best sage companion plants you can grow to make the most out of companion planting.

Companion Planting With Vegetables

Sage can be planted near various veggies. For example, you can plant the following near this herb:

• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Collard Greens
• Kale
• Kohlrabi

For most of these vegetables, sage can repel certain insects and other pests that will often come to feed upon these veggies.

Rust flies especially go after carrots. Luckily, due to the strong odor of sage, this herb will keep the rust flies away.

Sage’s odor masks the scent of carrots, so it seems as though carrots aren’t in your garden at all.

In addition, sage can boost the flavor of some of these veggies, such as cabbage. 

Companion Planting With Fruits

Fruits are similar to vegetables when it comes to benefitting from sage. For instance, strawberries and tomatoes are excellent fruits to grow near this sage.

Sage will keep away certain pests from these fruits to allow them to grow well. Also, the sage attracts many pollinators that will help the fruits (especially the tomatoes) grow well.

In addition, the sage herb can help boost the flavor of some of these fruits, such as the strawberry plant. 

Companion Planting With Other Herbs

In addition, you can plant sage near plenty of other herbs. For example, you can have a herb garden without other fruits and vegetables if you only want to grow spices.

Common herbs that are great to companion plant with sage are:

• Lavender
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Thyme

These herbs are great paired with sage because of their growing conditions.

For example, the herbs listed above prefer to have the same environment to be planted in. Also, they all require the same type of soil, which is well-drained and sandy or loamy in texture. 

Due to this, they have similar growing conditions, so you won’t need to worry about watering as much. This means the roots of one plant won’t be overwatered because of another plant.

What Not To Plant With Sage

On the other hand, while sage does well with many other plants, there are certain plants that it’s not compatible with.

For example, some plants you’ll want to avoid companion planting with sage are:

• Basil
• Chives
• Cucumber
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Onions
• Rue
• Shallots

Some, such as the chives, garlic, onions, and shallots, have different growing conditions than sage. For instance, these plants prefer to have a lot of moisture when grown.

Since sage doesn’t like having a lot of water, this can cause your sage plant to get overwatered. Thus, its roots will continuously be moist and rot, killing the sage plant.

On the other hand, sage can stunt the growth of cucumbers. When this happens, the cucumber can still grow, but you’ll get fewer harvests from it. Also, the sage can make your cucumbers taste bad.

On the flip side, rue can stunt the growth of sage. So, you’ll want to grow these two as far away as possible so that your sage can grow well while boosting the other plants around it. 

Can You Companion Plant With Sage Inside A Pot?

The short answer is yes. You can still utilize companion planting with sage while growing in a pot.

For example, sage can grow up to 1.5 feet wide and up to two feet tall. If you don’t want it to grow that big or you’re afraid it might take over your garden, then you can certainly grow it in a pot.

This way, you can move the pot around to different areas. For example, you can bring your sage plant inside during a harsh winter, so it continues to grow well.

However, you can leave the pot inside your garden either in the middle or on edge. By being close to your other plants, you can still get companion planting benefits.

Another benefit of companion planting your sage in a pot is that you don’t need to worry too much about similar growing conditions.

For instance, you can place your sage near a plant that requires a lot of water or a different type of soil. Neither plant will be affected because your sage will be separated in the pot.

Final Words

Sage is not only a great herb to grow for harvest and eating, but it can also give your whole garden a boost.

For example, sage can be planted near various fruits, vegetables, and other herbs to help them grow. In return, these other plants can help your sage, as well.

If you’ve never tried companion planting before, it’s certainly worth it. Sage is a hardy herb, and it’s easy to grow. So, it’s a great plant to try companion planting with if it’s your first time.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out how to dry sage and here for what to plant with sage. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here or find out how ground sage compares to dried sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post Best Companion Plants For Sage: What To Plant With Sage appeared first on Gardening Chief.

Did you know you can dry out this herb in many different ways? One of them is in the oven, and that’s what we’ll discuss in this article.

First, we’ll talk about why you should dry sage in the first place and its benefits. Then, we’ll share some different methods of drying out sage before talking about how to dry sage in the oven with a step-by-step guide.

We’ll also include how to wash your sage leaves and how long it’ll take to dry them out in the oven.

Finally, we’ll share how and when to harvest your sage plant and then how to store your dried sage leaves, so they last as long as possible. 

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Dry Sage?

There are many reasons why you should dry out your fresh sage leaves. One of those reasons is so that you can keep and use your sage leaves longer.

For instance, drying out herb leaves keep much longer than fresh leaves.

So, if you use sage often enough, you can keep it all year long for various recipes.

In addition, you can harvest your sage plant often enough, and drying out the leaves will ensure that none of it goes to waste.

Finally, you can buy dried sage leaves from your local grocery store. However, there’s a certain satisfaction about drying it out yourself. Also, you know how the herb was grown and that it was well cared for without any chemicals.

Read my full guide to how dry sage compares to fresh sage here.

How To Dry Fresh Sage

Did you know that you can dry out fresh sage leaves in four different ways? There’s no one right way over the others, and it’s all about preference and what you have in your kitchen.

For instance, you can dry out your sage leaves by using the following methods:

• In the open air
• In a dehydrator
• In the microwave
• In the oven

This article will discuss how to dry fresh sage leaves in the oven.

Using the oven is an excellent way to dry out your herbs because it’s low-maintenance to do. Of course, once it’s in the oven, you’ll want to check on it from time to time, but there’s little work and effort for you to do.

Also, drying sage leaves in the oven is relatively fast, and you can dry out many leaves at once, depending on how big your oven is.

How To Dry Sage In Oven

So, let’s talk about how to dry sage leaves in the oven. 

Step 1: Turn On The Oven To The Lowest Temperature

First, you’ll want to preheat your oven to the lowest temperature setting. This temperature will vary from oven to oven, but 170 degrees F is a good mark.

While that’s preheating, you can move along to step two.

Step 2: Prepare The Sage Leaves

Next, you need to prepare your sage leaves for the oven. To do so, remove the sage leaves from the stems.

Then, rinse the leaves under cool, running water. Dry them entirely so that no moisture ends up in the oven. Otherwise, your leaves will cook rather than dry out. You can dry them completely by patting them with a paper towel or using a salad spinner.

Once your leaves are rinsed and dried, then you can use a sharp kitchen knife to chop the leaves into smaller pieces.

However, you don’t need to chop the leaves into smaller pieces. Instead, you can dry out the whole leaves and then crush them after drying with your hands or a mortar and pestle. 

Step 3: Place The Sage Leaves On A Baking Sheet

As soon as that’s done, you’ll want to prepare the backing sheet. Place parchment paper or a non-stick baking sheet in the pan before spreading the chopped sage leaves onto the baking pan.

Make sure you lay the sage leaves in a single layer on the baking sheet. Otherwise, any leaves underneath some leaves won’t dry out properly.

Depending on how many baking sheets you have or how big your oven is, you may need to dry out the sage leaves in batches.

Step 4: Put The Sage Leaves In The Oven, Checking Occasionally

Now, you can finally put your sage leaves in the oven. This process should take about an hour before your herb is completely dry.

However, you can’t put the leaves in and walk away for an hour. So you’ll need to check on them every 15 minutes to ensure they’re not cooking or burning.

After about 30 minutes or so, you can turn the baking sheet around to ensure that all sides of the leaves get dried out, but this isn’t necessary.

Depending on how many leaves you have, this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Step 5: Let Your Sage Leaves Dry And Then Store

Once your sage leaves are completely dried out, take them out of the oven. Don’t forget to turn your oven off (or you can put in a new batch of sage leaves). 

Then, when your dried sage leaves are completely cooled, you can store them in a glass container with a tight lid.

How Long Does It Take To Dry Sage In The Oven?

Drying sage leaves in the oven should take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. However, to ensure it’s dried well, an hour will be ideal.

Of course, this can depend on a few factors. Every oven is different so the lowest temperature setting will vary. Depending on the temperature, your sage leaves might dry faster, or they could dry slower.

This is why it’s essential to check on your sage leaves every 15 minutes. So you can see how quickly and how well it’s drying.

After you dry out these leaves the first time, make a note of how long it took. Then, you’ll know for next time the approximate time it may take.

Do You Wash Sage Before Drying?

While it’s not necessary to wash your sage before drying, you should.

You can get fresh sage leaves from your garden. In that case, you know how the plant was grown and know where it came from. Also, chances are you didn’t use any herbicides or pesticides in your garden, so you shouldn’t need to rinse your sage.

However, it doesn’t harm the sage leaves, and by rinsing it off, you can ensure there are no pests or dirt on the leaves when it gets dried.

On the other hand, you’ll want to rinse your fresh sage leaves if you buy them from the grocery store. Unless it’s organic, it could have been grown with chemicals. Even if the herb is organic, you want to ensure there’s no dirt or anything else on the leaves. 

In other words, you should wash your sage before drying it out to ensure it’s healthy and safe to eat later.

How And When To Harvest Sage

The best time to harvest sage is in the early morning after the dew has dried off the leaves.

Then, take a look at the leaves and choose healthy leaves that aren’t yellowed or shriveled. Healthy leaves should be pinched off the stems from the leaf’s stem.

During a single harvest, you’ll want to only take about one-third of the healthy leaves. This will allow the other leaves to continue growing and help new leaves generate.

If you notice any flower buds producing, you can pinch those off as well. This will also encourage the sage plant to continue producing sage leaves.

However, this is a good sign if you see flowers beginning to bud. You can be sure that your leaves will have the strongest flavor at this point. So, you can harvest the leaves and pick off the buds to encourage new growth.

Alternatively, you can snip stems from the plant that hold onto multiple healthy leaves. However, you’ll want to leave at least two inches of the stem from the base of the soil to ensure the stem continues to grow and produces more leaves.

You can expect your first harvest to occur about 75 days after planting your sage. This is when the plant will be mature enough to give you fresh, healthy leaves.

How To Store Your Dried Sage

The best way to store your dried sage is to place it in a clear glass jar with a tight lid.

After you dry out this herb and it’s cooled completely, you can add it to the jar and put the lid on tightly to keep it fresh and ensure the dried leaves will last as long as possible.

Believe it or not, dried sage leaves can last up to three years if stored properly.

Final Words

Sage is a great herb to have in your kitchen for several recipes. Drying out the leaves will ensure that you can keep your harvests longer.

Using the oven is one way to dry out these leaves, and it’s also effective.

Want to learn more? Click here for my full guide to drying sage in the microwave and here for how to freeze sage. Find all my guides to growing sage here or read how ground sage compares to dried sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How To Dry Sage In The Oven: Quick And Easy appeared first on Gardening Chief.

However, there are pros and cons to drying sage in the microwave.

This article will explain why you should dry your sage leaves and their benefits. Then, we’ll share some of the various methods you can use to dry your fresh sage leaves.

After, we’ll go more in-depth about how to dry sage leaves in the microwave through a step-by-step guide. 

Finally, we’ll include how long using the microwave takes when drying herbs, how to wash sage before drying it out, and finally, how to store your dried sage herbs, so they last as long as possible. 

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Dry Sage Leaves?

If you use sage a lot within your recipes, then you should undoubtedly dry out your fresh sage leaves.

For example, drying sage leaves elongates this herb’s lifespan. Therefore, you can store dried sage leaves and use them for many years to come.

Also, you can get more harvests out of the sage plant. For instance, when leaves are ready to be harvested, but you’re not ready to use them yet, you can still harvest the plant.

So, more leaves will grow so you can harvest them again soon, but the leaves won’t go to waste because you can dry them out. 

How To Dry Sage Leaves

Drying sage leaves in the microwave is not the only way to dry them out. For instance, you can also dry sage leaves using the natural air, in a dehydrator, or an oven.

Learn more about how to dry sage leaves in an oven here.

There are some pros and cons to drying herb leaves in the microwave, as with every method. On the one hand, drying sage leaves in the microwave is the quickest method.

However, drying herbs in the microwave can spark a fire. So, you need to be careful and watch the herbs dry to ensure it remains safe.

How To Dry Sage In Microwave

So, let’s go over how to dry sage in the microwave with a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Wash And Prepare The Sage Leaves

Once you’ve harvested or bought your fresh sage leaves, it’s time to prep them to dry out.

First, you’ll want to pinch the leaves off the stems if they haven’t been taken off the plant’s stems already.

Once that’s done, it’s time to wash the leaves. You can rinse them off by letting them sit in cool, running water. You can rinse them carefully in small batches at a time with your hand or let them soak in a colander.

Then, it would be best to dry them thoroughly before putting them in the microwave. You can pat the leaves dry with a paper towel or let them dry in a salad spinner to ensure all the moisture is gone.

Then, you can place the leaves in a single layer on a microwave plate. Depending on how many leaves you have, you’ll have to dry the leaves in multiple batches.

If you want to fit more on the plate, you can always take a sharp kitchen knife and chop up the leaves into fine pieces and then dry the leaves.

Step 2: Microwave The Sage Leaves In 30-Second Intervals

Now you can microwave your sage leaves. It won’t take long at all, so it’s easy for the leaves to burn or catch on fire.

When putting the sage in the microwave, make sure to turn it on for 30-second intervals. If the wattage of your microwave is over 1,000, then you might want to have the sage leaves go through the microwave in 15-second intervals instead.

After about two to three minutes, your sage leaves should be dried. If you notice there’s still some moisture on the leaves, then you pop them back into the microwave for about ten to 15 seconds.

Step 3: Allow The Dried Sage Leaves To Cool And Then Store

When the leaves are finally dried, allow them to cool completely. If you hadn’t already chopped the leaves, you could do so now.

The dried sage leaves should crumble at the touch of your hand so that you won’t need a knife. Or, if you want it to be fine, you can crush the dried leaves with a mortar and pestle.

Once they’re crushed and cooled, then you can store your dried sage leaves in a clear, glass container with a tight lid. The dried leaves will last you for at least six months.

How Long Does It Take To Dry Sage In Microwave?

If you need a quick method of drying out your sage leaves, then the microwave is the way to go.

In general, it takes about two to three minutes to dry out the sage leaves completely. However, the timing will depend on the wattage of the microwave you have.

This is why you want to put your sage in the microwave for only 15 to 30 seconds at a time. You can check to see how long your microwave takes to dry a batch of herb leaves.

Do You Wash Sage Before Drying In Microwave?

Yes, it would be best if you washed your sage before drying it in the microwave.

If you harvested the sage leaves from your garden, then you’ll know how it was grown and where it came from. However, dirt and bugs could still be on the leaves. So, washing it allows you to ensure that the leaves are clean.

On the other hand, if you buy fresh leaves from your local grocery store, then you’ll want to wash them. Organic herbs shouldn’t have pesticides or herbicides on them, but you still don’t know where the herbs came from.

It’s always best to be safe than sorry. However, after you wash your sage leaves with running, cool water, make sure that the leaves are dried completely before you dry them out in the microwave.

For example, you can dry them of all the moisture by dabbing them with a paper towel or using a salad spinner. 

How To Store Your Dried Sage Leaves

The best way to store your dried sage leaves is in a clear glass jar with a tight lid. You can recycle a jam jar or use mason jars that you may have around your house.

By covering the dried sage tightly, it’ll last you at least six months. After that, the flavor will become more subtle. However, dried sage can last up to three years if stored well.

Final Words

If you’re in a hurry to dry some sage leaves for a big dinner, then the microwave is the way to go. It’s quick, easy, and it’ll cool faster.

However, using the microwave can also cause issues, such as the sage leaves burning or possibly catching on fire if they’re not dried completely after being washed.

Overall, using the microwave is a good method, but you need to be careful.

Want to learn more? Click here for my full guide to drying sage in the oven and find out how to freeze sage here. Find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How To Dry Sage In The Microwave: Quick And Easy appeared first on Gardening Chief.

But first, we’ll talk about why you should grow sage and its benefits. Then, we’ll share if growing sage from seeds is easy or not before explaining where you can get sage seeds. Next, we’ll explain when you should plant your sage seeds once you have them. After, we’ll share two step-by-step guides about planting your sage seeds outside in the garden or indoors in a pot.

Finally, we’ll discuss what you can do once your sage seeds germinate to help them continue to grow well. Also, we’ll touch upon growing white sage from seeds.

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Why Grow Sage?

There’s a lot to love about this herb, which is exactly why you should grow it in your garden.

Sage can add a lot to your recipes, especially Mexican, Italian, and European dishes.

This herb can be added within the mix of ingredients, as a garnish, as a dry rub, or it can be used to marinate meat.

It has a pine and citrus flavor that will add some extra spice to your meals.

In addition, sage can be used fresh, dried, ground, or rubbed. 

Sage is a hardy herb that can grow well on its own when provided with the correct growing conditions. So, whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, sage is an excellent herb to add.

Once you have the right tools to grow this herb, it’s easy to do, whether from cuttings or seeds.

Is Growing Sage From Seed Easy?

The short answer is yes. Growing sage from seed is easy. As long as you provide the correct soil, sunlight amount, and watering needs, then your sage seeds should sprout well.

From there, the rest of the growth will be up to your sage plant, with you checking on it from time to time.

How To Get Sage Seeds

There are a few ways to get sage seeds. They’re both easy methods, and you can collect seeds over time, especially if you already have a sage plant growing.

Get Sage Seeds From A Store

First, you can go to your local garden center and buy seeds. Alternatively, you can pick them up online. 

Sage seeds are inexpensive, and you can use them to plant more than one sage plant at once, depending on how many plants you want.

In addition, sage seeds keep well for up to four years. So, you can plant some now and then store the rest for another time as needed.

How To Harvest Sage Seeds

Alternatively, you can harvest seeds from your own sage plant. If you already have a sage plant in your garden, then you can wait for it to bolt.

Bolting means that your sage plant will flower, producing seeds. You can harvest the seeds and store them for another time when you’re ready to plant another sage plant.

On the other hand, you can ask a friend who has a sage plant if you can harvest some of the seeds to start your own.

Finally, another way to harvest sage seeds is to go to your local garden center and buy a sage plant that’s already planted. Then, you can give that plant some TLC, and when the time comes and it bolts, you can harvest the seeds.

When To Plant Sage Seeds

The best time to plant sage seeds is when the soil in the ground is at about 65 degrees F. This typically happens about a week or two before the final frost of the season.

This is an ideal time to plant the seeds in your garden. Alternatively, you can plant them in a pot as well.

However, if you plan on keeping the pot outside, this is an ideal time to grow the seeds. Otherwise, if the pot stays indoors, you can plant the sage seeds whenever you’d like.

Exactly How To Grow Sage From Seed In The Garden

If you’ve chosen to grow sage seeds in your garden. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to do so.

Step 1: Prepare The Gardening Soil

The first thing you’ll want to do is go out and get the correct soil for your sage seeds. Gardening soil works best outside, and you want to make sure the soil is well-draining and sandy or loamy in texture.

Once you have that prepped in your garden, you can go ahead and plant your seeds.

Read more about picking the best soil for sage here.

Step 2: Poke A Hole In The Soil And Add Seeds

You can poke a hole in the soil that’s about ⅛ inch deep. Then, you can add the seeds.

You don’t need to add all the seeds you have, but you’ll want to add a few seeds. Not all of them will germinate, so having a few planted in the ground will allow for something to get started.

Once the seeds are planted, you can cover the hole and water it.

Step 3: Wait For Germination

Once watered, you’ll need to wait for the seeds to germinate. Then, check on the seeds at least once a day and add a little water each time.

While sage doesn’t need too much water to grow, this will help during the early stages.

Sage seeds take their time to germinate. So, you can expect to see results in about six weeks. 

Exactly How To Grow Sage Indoors From Seed

Luckily, growing sage from seeds indoors isn’t too different from growing them outside in the garden. So, let’s talk about how to grow sage from seed indoors. 

Step 1: Get A Large Clay Pot And Prepare The Potting Soil

First, you’ll want to get yourself a large pot. Sage can grow to be about 1.5 feet wide and grow up to two feet tall.

If grown in a pot, the sage plant won’t grow as big, but you’ll still need a pot that’s large enough to hold the plant without stunting its growth too much.

So, you can get a clay pot that’s at least 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Also, make sure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom to allow the soil to drain any excess water properly.

Once you have your pot ready, you can buy potting soil mix to add to it. Be sure it’s potting mix and not gardening soil.

Step 2: Sprinkle Seeds In Soil And Cover

Now you can sprinkle in your seeds. You can do so on top of the soil and lightly cover them or poke a hole about ⅛ inch deep in the soil.

You can add a few seeds to the soil and cover them up. Not all of the seeds will germinate, but some of them will.

Step 3: Water The Seeds And Wait

Once the seeds are in the soil, you can water them every day to help them grow.

Then, you can wait for your seeds to germinate, which should take about six weeks.

What To Do Next When Growing Sage from Seeds?

After about six weeks and your seeds have begun to germinate, what else can you do to keep your sage growing strong and healthy?

Whether you’ve grown your sage seeds outside in the garden or indoors in a pot, there are two important growing conditions it needs to thrive.

Give Your Sage Plant Plenty Of Sun

First, sage wants full, direct sunlight. So, you’ll need to give it at least six hours of full sun every day.

If you decide to plant your sage seeds in the garden, then be sure to choose a spot that gets maximum sunlight every day.

On the other hand, if you decide to grow your sage seeds inside in a pot, then you’ll need to move the pot to a room that gets plenty of sun.

Depending on where you live and the season, this may be tricky to do. 

So, you can buy an LED grow lamp or sun lamp to mimic the sun’s rays.

Learn more about sage’s sun needs here.

Water Your Sage Plant Occasionally

In addition, one of the reasons sage needs well-drained soil is that it doesn’t like to have too much water.

When you first plant the seeds, you can water your sage a little bit each day to help it sprout. However, once the seeds germinate, then you can begin to water them less.

Finally, when your sage plant is matured (after about 75 to 80 days), then you’ll only need to water your sage plant about once a week or whenever the soil feels dry to the bone. 

Be mindful that it’s easy to overwater sage, so give it a drink sparingly.

Growing White Sage From Seed – Is It Different?

Is there a difference between growing white sage from seeds and other types of seeds?

Believe it or not, how to grow white sage from seed indoors is the same method you would use to grow other sage seeds indoors. 

Final Words on Growing Sage from Seeds

That’s all there is to it for starting sage from seed. Of course, it’s easier than it seems, as long as you have the right soil. Also, be sure to keep the soil moist during the early stages. Sage seeds take some time to germinate, so don’t worry if you don’t see results right away. 

Want to learn more? Click here to learn whether sage can survive winter or here for the best soil for sage. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How To Grow Sage From Seed – Step by Step Instructions appeared first on Gardening Chief.

One of those growing conditions is the right soil needs. This article will explain the best soil for sage of all types.

First, we’ll discuss why you should grow sage and its benefits. Then, we’ll go into detail about whether you should plant sage in a pot or a garden.

Then, we’ll describe the best potting soil and gardening soil for your sage plant, depending on where you decide to plant it. Also, we’ll explain changing out the potting soil and what to avoid when choosing soil for your sage plant. 

Finally, we’ll end with some extra tips on growing your sage with the right soil. 

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Sage?

If you’re a beginner gardener, sage is a wonderful herb to add to your garden. It’s a low-maintenance, hardy herb to grow.

With the right growing conditions, sage will grow itself. All you’ll need to do is get it started and then check on it once in a while to ensure it’s thriving.

In addition, sage is a great companion plant. You can add this plant directly to your garden or in a pot to help out the plot’s other fruits, veggies, and herbs.

Learn more about companion planting with sage here.

Not only is sage easy to grow, but you can also use it in many ways. For example, you can add fresh sage leaves or dry them out to use in many recipes.

Sage has a pine and citrus flavor that is great in Greek, Italian, European cuisines. This herb can be added to the dish with other ingredients or used as a dry rub, garnish, or marinate.

There’s a lot to love about this herb, but if you’re going to try growing it, then you need the proper soil conditions to help it thrive.

Should You Grow Sage In Pots Vs Garden

You can grow sage in either a pot or a garden. There’s no right or wrong way to do so.

For example, you can grow sage directly in your garden with other plants. Companion planting will work if you strategize the right plants to pair the sage with.

If you decide to grow it in the garden, use the suitable gardening soil and place it near other plants that require the same soil needs.

On the other hand, you can plant your sage in a pot. You can put the pot in the middle or in the corner of your garden where companion planting will still grow. Also, your sage won’t spread as much, possibly interfering with the growth of the other plants.

Alternatively, you can grow your sage plant in a pot and leave it inside your house. However, you can move the pot indoors or outdoors, depending on the season and the weather.

Criteria For The Best Potting Soil For Sage

For the best growth, you want to have potting soil between 6.0 and 7.0 on the pH scale. This means the soil will be a little bit acidic, which is exactly what your sage plant wants.

Overall, the potting soil should be well-draining and sandy or loamy in texture.

There are different types of sage, as well. The best soil for Russian sage and the best soil for Texas sage is similar to the other types.

In addition, the best potting soil for white sage is also the same. 

What To Avoid In Sage Soil

The texture is the number one thing to avoid when choosing soil for your sage plant.

For instance, sage prefers to have sandy or loamy soil because it needs soil that drains well.

If the soil doesn’t drain the water well, your sage’s roots will remain moist. This may cause them to rot, thus harming the plant, and it could die.

Best Soil For Sage In Pots

Aside from getting the proper pH levels and getting well-draining soil, you’ll want to get potting soil for your sage if you’re going to plant it in a pot. 

Potting soil and gardening soil are two different types. Unfortunately, one cannot be substituted for the other.

We’ll discuss gardening soil in a little bit, but if you’re going to grow your sage plant in a pot, then you’ll need to buy a bag of potting soil.

Potting soil doesn’t contain real soil. Also, it’s lighter in texture. So, it’ll still get the job done in helping your sage plant grow, but it’s more suited to thrive in smaller spaces, such as a pot, and also for indoor use.

However, even if you decide to grow your sage in a pot and leave it outside in the garden, you’ll still want to use potting soil mix.

Should You Change The Soil When Growing Sage In Pots?

To keep both your sage plant and the soil it resides in healthy, you should change the soil occasionally.

However, it doesn’t need to be changed frequently. You can change out the soil about once a year.

On the other hand, if you decide to repot your sage into a different pot, then you’ll need to add new potting mix to the new pot.

Simply fill the new pot with potting mix, and then take out your sage plant from the other pot. Transfer it over, and then you can bring the old potting soil outside as compost. 

Best Soil For Sage Plants In The Garden

Similar to potting soil, you want to choose soil that drains well and is sandy or loamy. Also, it should have pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0.

However, if you’re going to plant your sage in the garden, do not get a bag of soil that says “potting mix” on it. Instead, you’ll want to find something that says, “gardening soil.”

As mentioned above, potting soil doesn’t have real soil in it. That’s the major difference between that and gardening soil.

Gardening soil is best suited for outside the garden because it contains different ingredients, including real soil. So, gardening soil will blend in well with the natural earth. 

In addition, gardening soil is heavier. As a result, it’ll withstand the outdoors better, such as various weather conditions.

Other Tips

Now that you know the best soil to use for your sage plant, how can you care for the soil?

Remember, sage prefers it to be acidic with pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0. To ensure that the soil is still providing the nutrients your plant needs, you can test the soil once in a while.

You can DIY a pH level test yourself at home, or you can buy pH test strips from your local garden center.

In addition, you may be wondering if you should add fertilizer to your sage’s soil.

While fertilizer won’t necessarily harm your sage’s plant, you don’t want to add too much of it. If you’re growing sage to use in various recipes, then the fertilizer may cause your sage plant to lose some of its taste.

Of course, if you prefer to have a more subtle taste of sage, then this is fine. 

On the other hand, fertilizer helps your sage grow faster. So, you can get an earlier harvest, depending on when you plant it.

Final Words

When it comes to its various growing conditions, sage is a hardy plant and relatively low-maintenance. However, once you give it everything it needs, you won’t need to worry much about the plant, and it’ll grow well on its own.

Choosing the right soil is important for the optimal growth of your sage plant. Otherwise, its roots could rot, it could be overwatered, or its growth may be stunted. Any of these things can cause your sage plant harm and potentially death.

So, remember: well-draining soil that’s sandy or loamy is ideal for your sage plant to thrive.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn whether sage can survive winter or here for how to grow sage from seed. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post Best Soil For Sage (In Pots And In Gardens) appeared first on Gardening Chief.

For instance, sage still needs your help and the right growing conditions to thrive. Also, depending on which plant hardiness zone you’re in, sage can be a perennial plant or an annual herb.

So, will sage survive winter? That’s what we’ll talk about in this article.

First, we’ll explain what a plant hardiness zone is and which zones sage falls into. Then, we’ll discuss all sage plants in the winter, including Texas sage and Russian sage in winter. 

Then, we’ll detail the lowest temperature sage can survive in. We’ll also share how you can protect your sage from the winter and how to prepare it for the colder months. Finally, we’ll touch upon growing sage in winter. 

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Plant Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones are a map of the average temperatures per region. There are 13 zones in total in the US, with one being the coldest region and 13 the hottest region.

You can look at this map to see which hardiness zone your region is in. From there, you’ll be able to tell whether or not it’s a good idea to plant sage in your garden or if you should keep it indoors.

This will also help you determine the average temperature of your region so that you can plant other herbs and the like.

For example, sage can grow in many different zones. However, that will determine if it’s a perennial herb or an annual herb.

Sage can grow well in zones five through eight, which will be a hardy perennial. This means it will simply go dormant in the colder months and then grow again in the spring.

On the other hand, sage can grow in the southern regions, such as zone nine, but it will be an annual herb. This means the plant will only last one year for harvesting and won’t grow the following spring again. 

Will Sage Survive Winter?

The short answer is yes. Sage can and will survive winter, depending on which zone it’s planted in.

Overall, sage is a cold-hardy plant. While it grows best in the summer months, it can grow well in the winter.

Or, in some cases, your sage plant will go dormant during the winter and then grow back again in the spring.

Will Russian Sage Survive Winter?

Russian sage can also grow well in winter.

This is another type of sage plant that may go dormant in the winter and then grow again in the spring.

Will Texas Sage Survive Winter?

In addition, Texas sage can also survive in winter.

While it’s not as cold-hardy as the other types of sages, it can withstand temperatures as low as 15 degrees F. 

What Is The Lowest Temperature That Sage Can Survive?

Sage can survive temperatures as low as 15 degrees F.

With the right growing conditions, sage plants are hardy all year round. So, if it’s matured by the time winter comes around, you can be sure that your sage plant will continue to survive in the cold weather.

However, you’ll still want to take caution and do your best to protect the plant in the colder weather to give it its best chance at survival. 

Should You Bring Sage Inside In Winter?

One way to protect your sage plant in the winter is to bring it inside your house for the season. Is this necessary? No. There are other ways to protect the plant during the winter, and it can survive well being left outside.

However, if you’re nervous that your sage plant won’t grow back in the spring, you can bring the plant inside for the winter.

In your house, you can provide this herb with its normal growing conditions as if it were a normal growing season.

If your sage is growing in a pot outside in your garden, you simply need to pick it up and bring it inside a sunny room in your house.

Alternatively, if your sage is growing in the ground in the garden, you can replant it in a pot with fresh potting soil.

However, there are other ways to protect your sage plant in the winter.

How To Protect Sage In Winter

In zones, five through eight, sage plants will most likely go dormant in the winter and grow again in the spring.

However, whether it still grows in the winter or not, you need to be careful of harsh weather conditions (such as snowstorms) and below-freezing temperatures.

So, one way to protect your sage in the winter is to bring it inside for the season, as mentioned above.

Alternatively, you can do the following…

Use Cold Frames

Cold frames are like shields, in that they cover the plant, protecting it from wind, rain, and snow. They can be reflective as well so that it absorbs the sunlight and keeps the plant warm even when the temperatures are colder.

You can buy cold frames at your local garden center, or you can create DIY ones. 

Bring Your Sage Plant Into A Greenhouse

On the other hand, if you have a greenhouse handy, you can put your sage plant in there for the winter.

The greenhouse will protect your plant from various weather conditions, and it will also keep the plant warmer in the winter.

This is a great alternative to bringing your sage inside your house. However, if you want it to continue getting fresh air, putting it inside a greenhouse is a great option. 

Pruning Sage For Winter

Finally, you can also prune this bush during the winter months.

You simply need to cut back some of the branches to do this. If you notice any of them are looking yellow or dead, you can trim them down to promote new growth when the time comes. 

How To Prepare Sage For Winter

Preparing your sage plant for winter is similar to how you would protect it during the colder months. However, before the cold truly sets in, you’ll want to get it ready.

Protect It With Cold Frames

As discussed earlier, you can use cold frames to prepare your sage for the winter. When you notice the winter beginning to set in and you want to get ahead of the season, you can add cold frames to your plant.

You can make cold frames yourself or buy them at your local garden center.

Even if the weather hasn’t turned too cold yet, you can add the cold frames to your sage plant to ensure it works well.

Repot Your Sage Plant

Another way to prepare your sage plant for winter is to repot it. For example, if it’s growing in the garden, you can move it to a large pot with fresh potting soil.

Once you do that, you can bring your sage plant into a greenhouse for the winter. The greenhouse will keep it warm, allowing the plant to get some fresh air.

Also, it will be around other plants in the greenhouse, so it’ll be like it never left the garden in the first place.

On the other hand, you can bring it inside your house once you repot the sage plant. You’ll be able to control the growing conditions better inside.

For example, you can buy an LED grow lamp or sun lamp to give your plant as much sun as it requires to grow well. In addition, you can keep an eye on its soil and watering needs.

Know When To Plant Your Sage Plant

Finally, the best way to prepare your sage plant for winter is to know when and where to plant it. 

For example, the best time to begin planting sage is when the ground is about 65 degrees F. This will usually happen about one to two weeks before the final frost of the winter season.

At this time, your herb plant will have enough time to grow since sage takes about 75 to 80 days to reach full maturity.

Then, when winter comes along, it’ll be big and strong enough to withstand the cold, with your help.

Does Sage Grow In Winter?

Yes, sage can still grow in the winter, depending on which zone you plant it in. Sage is cold-hardy and can thrive in the winter. As long as it’s protected enough and has the right growing conditions, then it’ll be fine.

Final Words

So, can sage survive winter? In a nutshell, yes. However, you need to take certain precautions to ensure that it can grow well and thrive in the winter.

For example, it still needs the right growing conditions, and you’ll need to help protect the plant during the harsh weather.

In addition, depending on which hardiness zone you’re in, you might need to allow your sage to bolt and grow a new plant again the following year.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out how much sun sage needs or here for the best soil for sage. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post Will Sage Survive Winter? [Full Guide] appeared first on Gardening Chief.

This article explains when to plant sage seeds and more.

First, we’ll discuss why you should grow sage and its benefits. Then, we’ll talk about different types of sage, when to plant them, and when to plant outside or indoors. 

We’ll also talk about whether sage can survive the winter and if you can plant it at any time during the year. Then, we’ll share some other tips to help sage grow after you’ve planted it at the best time possible to help it thrive.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Sage?

Sage is a wonderful herb to add to your garden. Anyone can grow this plant because it’s a hardy herb, and it’s easy to grow. So, once you get the hang of its growing conditions, the sage will grow well on its own with little maintenance.

Not only is sage easy to grow in your garden or indoors, but it can add a lot to your garden too. For instance, it’s a great companion plant for others.

Sage attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies to help the garden thrive. Also, sage has similar growing needs to other plants to grow well together.

Finally, this herb is perennial in some areas, so you can grow the same plant for a few years and get many harvests from it.

When you harvest sage, you’ll be able to use the fresh leaves in various recipes for a strong, lemony flavor. Alternatively, you can dry out the sage leaves or freeze them so that they’ll last longer for other recipes.

Learn about how to freeze your fresh sage leaves here.

To ensure you get many harvests out of this plant, you need to know the right time to grow sage.

When To Plant Sage

So, when can you plant sage outside? The best time to do so is when the ground’s temperature is about 65 degrees F.

The ground should be this temperature in early spring, about one to two weeks before the final frost of the cold season.

Alternatively, you can begin growing sage at some point in the early fall. Sage is hardy in general, but it’s also a cold-hardy plant.

So, it can thrive through many seasons with the right growing conditions.

When To Plant Texas Sage Bush

When it comes to planting Texas sage, the best time to grow it is about the same time as other sage plants.

For example, Texas sage will do well being planted in early spring or early fall.

When To Plant Russian Sage

But when is the best time to plant Russian sage? Russian sage likes to be planted in the early spring or early fall, about six weeks before the first frost of the cold season.

Like the other sage plants, this herb is cold-hardy but grows best in the summer.

Can You Plant Sage At Other Times Of The Year?

Yes, you can plant sage at other times during the year. While this herb does grow best in the summer months, it is a cold-hardy plant.

Now that we know the best time to plant this herb outside is in the early spring or the early fall, you can plant it during other times of the year.

For example, you can begin planting sage inside a pot indoors at any time. If you’re going to keep the plant inside the house throughout the year, as long as you can give it the best growing conditions inside, then you can begin planting it at any time.

On the other hand, if you decide to plant your sage inside the house to move it outside to the garden later, then you’ll want to time it right.

For instance, you can begin growing sage about six to eight weeks before early spring or early fall. Once the plant is well established in the pot and the temperature outside is appropriate, then you can transfer the plant to the garden.

Alternatively, you don’t need to transfer the plant from the pot to the garden. You can always leave the herb in the pot and put the pot in the garden.

This way, your sage will still grow well, but it won’t run into other plants in the garden if you don’t have the space. However, companion planting will still work this way. 

Will Sage Survive Winter?

The short answer is yes. Sage can survive in the winter.

In some areas, sage will go dormant during the winter. However, it’s still alive and will come back in the springtime to continue growing.

Sage is a perennial herb, which means it will grow back year after year.

On the other hand, sage may continue to grow during the winter in some areas. Believe it or not, this herb can withstand temperatures as low as 15 degrees F.

If you’re nervous about leaving your sage outside in the winter, there are ways to protect it. For example, you can add a cold frame to it so it’ll stay warm or bring it into a greenhouse if you have one.

Alternatively, you can pot your sage plant and bring it inside your house for the winter. Then, if you continue to give it warm temperatures and proper sunlight, it should continue to thrive well.

Read my full guide to sage and winter here.

How Long Does Sage Take To Grow?

This herb will take about 75 to 80 days to reach its full maturity. From the time you plant the seeds to when it’s ready for harvest.

After that, it’ll take about two and a half to three months. 

Tips For Planting Sage

In addition to knowing when the best time is to plant sage, you always want to know its growing conditions.

Where To Plant

You can choose to plant your sage either directly in the garden, in a pot in the garden, or a pot inside your house.

Wherever you choose, you want to make sure that your sage plant has plenty of space to grow. For example, it should have at least 24 inches of space around it and between other plants if it’s in the garden.

If you’re growing it in a pot, the pot should be at least 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep.

When it comes to companion planting, be sure to place it near other plants with similar growing conditions. For example, put it next to plants that want the same type of soil and watering.

You can read more about companion planting with sage here.

On the other hand, it can help other plants such as strawberries or carrots to attract pollinators.

Soil Conditions

Sage prefers to have sandy or loamy soil that drains water well. Its pH levels should be between 6.0 and 7.0.

You can add fertilizer to the soil, but it’s not necessary. If you add fertilizer, keep in mind that it’ll help your sage bush grow faster, but it’ll make the flavor more subtle.

You can find the best soil for sage here.

Watering Conditions

One of the reasons sage needs soil that’s well-draining is because it doesn’t like to have too much water.

If you overwater your sage plant or the soil doesn’t drain well, then its roots will remain wet. If that happens, it could cause the roots to rot, and the plant will die.

During the early stages of growth, you’ll want to water your sage plant often so that it gets well-established.

Then, as your plant gets older and well-grown, you don’t need to water it nearly as much.

Sun Conditions

Finally, sage prefers to have medium to full direct sunlight. So the best way to help it grow is to give it about six hours of full sunlight per day.

So, you plant it in a spot in the garden that receives direct sunlight for most of the day, or you can place the pot in a sunny room of your house.

Alternatively, if you’re growing this sage plant off-season and it’s inside your house, you can buy an LED grow lamp or sun lamp to mimic the sun’s rays.

You can read more about how much sun sage needs here.

When To Harvest Sage

Sage plants take about 75 to 80 days to fully mature. At this time, you’ll be able to harvest your sage plant for the first time.

Then, you should be able to harvest its leaves at least once a week for the season.

Final Words

Overall, you can plant sage at any time of year, depending on where you plant it and the growing conditions you can give it.

However, the best time to plant it is in early spring or early fall, so it’ll thrive.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn how tall sage grows and here for a full guide to how to grow sage from seed. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

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This article will answer the question, “how big does sage get?”

First, we’ll discuss why you should grow sage and its many benefits. Then, we’ll explain how big and tall sage, Russian sage, and Texas sage can grow in the garden.

After, we’ll share some tips to help your sage plant grow and thrive as big as possible before discussing how and when to harvest this plant.

Finally, if you want to keep your sage plant on the smaller side, we have tips for that too.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Sage?

Sage is a great herb to add to your garden for several reasons.

First, sage is a great companion plant to other herbs, plants, and flowers in the garden. For example, sage is an excellent pollinator, so it’ll attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to help the plants in your garden grow well.

Second, sage is easy to grow once you get the hang of it. As soon as you get your sage started with the suitable soil, sun, and watering needs, this herb will grow well on its own. Also, it’ll grow fast, giving you many harvests for a few years.

Finally, sage is a wonderful herb to add to many different dishes. It has a “poultry” flavor that’s lemon-like. You can add it to meat, potatoes, and other various recipes.

When using sage in these recipes, you can do so by using the fresh sage leaves, or you can dry them out or freeze them first to keep them longer.

So, if you’re going to grow a sage plant, you’ll want to know how much space it’ll take up in your garden.

How Big Does Sage Grow?

Believe it or not, sage is a rather large shrub. It’ll prefer to have plenty of elbow room in the garden or have a large pot with plenty of wriggle room.

So, how big does a sage plant get? This herb can spread out about two to three feet wide.

How Tall Does Sage Grow?

On the other hand, a sage plant will grow tall if given a chance. For instance, it can grow as tall as one to two feet.

How Big Does Russian Sage Grow?

Alternatively, if you decide to grow Russian sage, you can also expect this plan to spread out about two to three feet wide.

How Tall Does Russian Sage Grow?

Russian sage can grow much taller. So you can expect Russian sage to spread out about three to five feet tall if given the room.

How Big Does Texas Sage Get?

There’s another type of sage called Texas sage. If you end up growing this type of sage plant, then you can expect it to grow as wide as five feet.

How Tall Does Texas Sage Grow?

In addition, Texas sage can grow to be as tall as five feet. So, it’s a rather large plant all around.

Tips To Help Sage Grow As Big As Possible

As you can see, sage is a rather large plant to grow. So, if you have the space for it in your garden, then you can certainly allow it to grow as big as it possibly can.

If you do, you’ll have plenty of sage harvests to come.

But how can you help this herb plant grow as large as it can?

Choosing A Spot In The Garden (Or A Pot)

First, you want to pick the best spot to grow your sage plant. For example, if you decide to do so in a garden with other plants, there are a few other things to consider.

You’ll want to choose a spot in the garden that gets plenty of sunlight during the day. Also, you can plant it near other herbs and plants that are good companions for sage.

For example, chives, strawberries, or carrots are great to grow with sage. They’ll help each other thrive in the garden.

You can read more about companion planting with sage here.

However, in addition to companion planting, your sage should be well-spaced out between other plants.

As we’ve learned, sage can grow big and tall. To ensure that the sage plant doesn’t run into any other plants while growing, you’ll want to space the plants at least 20 to 24 inches apart.

On the other hand, you can grow sage in a clay pot or container. You’ll want to make sure that it’s at least ten inches wide in diameter and 12 inches deep.

When To Plant Your Sage

The best time to plant sage outside is about late spring, or whenever the final frost of the season is.

However, if you want to grow the sage indoors, you can begin planting it whenever you want. Sage is a hardy plant, and while it grows best in the summer, it can withstand temperatures as low as negative 30 degrees F.

On the other hand, you can get a head start on planting sage by planting it indoors and then transferring it to the garden later.

If you do this, plant the seeds inside about six to eight weeks before the final frost of the season. Then, in late spring, you can bring the plant outside and put it in the garden.

Click here for my full guide to when to plant sage and here for how to grow sage from seed.

Preparing The Soil And Fertilizer

The best soil to use for sage is one that’s sandy or loamy and drains water well.

Make sure the pH levels of the soil is between 6.0 and 7.0 to ensure that it’s slightly acidic. It should also contain plenty of nutrients for your sage to grow well.

If you think your soil needs something extra to help your sage grow, you can add fertilizer. However, you’ll only need to add a little bit of fertilizer.

For instance, the fertilizer will help the sage plant grow faster, making the flavor more subtle.

You can find the best soil for sage here.

Watering Your Sage Plant

One of the reasons sage needs well-drained soil is because it doesn’t like to have too much water. If your sage’s roots remain too wet, then they can rot. It also doesn’t like to have soggy soil.

When your sage is still in its early stages of growth, you’ll want to water it fairly often. However, once the plant is growing well and established in the garden, you can water it less frequently.

Overwatering could kill the plant. The less water it gets, the stronger the flavor will be. On the other hand, it is easy to underwater your sage. So, if you notice it beginning to wilt, it could be because there’s not enough water.

Giving Your Sage Plant Plenty Of Sun

Sage thrives on medium to full sunlight. In other words, you want to provide your sage plant with at least six hours of sunlight per day.

This herb plant can grow well in partial shade, but it’ll do better with direct sunlight.

So, when choosing where to plant this herb, you’ll want to make sure that it’s in a sunny spot.

Also, you can utilize companion planting since sage grows to be so tall. Plant it near another plant that doesn’t require much sun and is shorter than the sage.

The sage will protect the other plant by shading it from the sun while absorbing all the sunlight it wants in the afternoon.

On the other hand, if you begin growing your sage plant inside the house, then you’ll want to place the pot or container in a sunny room. Then, you can move it around the house to ensure it gets as much sun as possible.

Alternatively, you can buy a sun lamp, or an LED grow lamp that will mimic the sun’s rays.

Read more about the sage plant’s sun needs here.

When To Harvest Sage

So, how long does sage take to grow? Sage takes about 75 to 80 days to reach full maturity. It’s at this time that you’ll be able to harvest your sage plant for the first time.

You should be able to harvest from this plant at least once every week or every other week. You’ll want to give it enough time in between harvests for your herb to grow back.

How To Harvest Sage

You can harvest this plant in one of two ways.

First, you can simply pinch the leaves off directly from the steams. This is a good method to do if you plan on drying out the leaves.

You can learn about drying out your sage leaves here.

On the other hand, if you’re going to use the leaves fresh, you can snip off some of the stalks from the sage bush.

You can trim about six to eight inches of the stalk at a time, leaving at least one to two inches of stalk left at the base of the soil.

Leaving a little bit of the stalk will promote new growth so that you can harvest the plant again within the next week or two.

Also, if you happen to find that the flowers are budding, you can pinch those off. This will also encourage new growth.

On the other hand, when you see the flowers beginning to bud, that’s a sign that the sage leaves are the most flavorful. So, this is an optimal time to harvest it.

How To Best Keep Your Sage Plant Small

Now that we know, sage plants can grow relatively wide and tall. First, you need to figure out if you have room for this plant.

If not, don’t worry. You can still plant sage. There are ways to keep this herb plant small without stunting its growth.

First, you can prune the plant as often as you can. Whether you harvest some of the leaves or simply trim the bush back. You won’t harm the shrub at all, and it’ll continue to grow.

Pruning is also a great way to encourage new growth. Check on your plant often. If you notice some leaves turning yellow or pests have taken over a stalk or two, then you can trim it back, making the plant healthy again.

Alternatively, you can grow sage in a pot. As long as it’s big enough for your sage to grow comfortably without reaching its full size, this plant can thrive in a pot. You’ll get plenty of harvests from it without it taking up too much room.

The best part is that you can keep it in a pot inside your house or you can leave it out in the garden. So, it won’t run into any other plants in the garden, but you’ll still get the many benefits of companion planting.

Final Words

Sage is a large bush that will easily take over your garden if given a chance. However, it won’t stunt the growth of other plants. Sage simply likes to have elbow room.

It’s an easy herb to care for and let grow to its full potential with the right care. But, on the other hand, there are ways to keep this bush small without hurting its health.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out how much sun sage needs to grow. You can also find all my guides to growing sage here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How Big Does Sage Grow? [Full Guide To Healthy Growing] appeared first on Gardening Chief.

First, we’ll talk about why you should grow sage in the first place and its many benefits. Then, we’ll answer whether sage needs full sun or not and how much sun the plant needs. Finally, we’ll also answer where you can grow sage.

Also, we’ll touch upon growing Russian sage. 

In addition, we’ll explain sage’s soil needs, the sun needs when grown in a pot, and whether or not this plant can survive in the shade and the wintertime.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Sage?

If you don’t know which herb to add to your garden, sage is a great choice. First, sage adds a “poultry” flavor to many dishes. For instance, you can add sage to your potatoes and meat during a big Thanksgiving meal.

Aside from taste, though, sage is a hardy herb to grow. It’s great for beginner gardeners because once the plant is well established in your garden, this plant is easy to grow.

Also, sage is a perennial plant, which means it’ll grow back the following year. It can do well in various temperatures and weather conditions as well.

In some areas, sage is considered an evergreen plant.

Sage is also useful in your garden as it attracts various pollinators. Not to mention that sage has plenty of health benefits for you, such as soothing a cough or sore throat. It also has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Does Sage Need Full Sun?

The short answer is yes and no. Sage does not need full sun. However, it can do well in full sun.

For example, you want to allow your sage plant to get at least a medium amount of sun, but it will continue to grow well in full sunlight.

If you want your sage to grow big and tall, then direct full sunlight will be ideal.

How Much Sun Does Sage Need?

No matter the amount of sunlight your sage plant can get, you want to provide it with at least six hours of sunlight per day.

So, you’ll want to place it in a sunny spot in your garden so that it can get the ample amount of sunlight the plant needs.

On the other hand, if you’re growing your sage indoors, you’ll want to make sure that you place the pot in a sunny room. It can be left on a window sill or, if you don’t get a lot of sunlight where you are, you can add an LED grow lamp or sun lamp.

How Much Sun Does Russian Sage Need?

The Russian sage sun requirements are similar to any other sage herb. It needs at least six hours of full sunlight to grow well.

It can grow well in medium sunlight, but the plant may droop and go limp after some time.

Where To Plant Sage In A Garden

Where to plant sage outside is simple. Luckily, sage can grow almost anywhere. It can grow well in almost every zone and many different weather conditions.

You want to place it in a spot in the garden or in your house that receives plenty of sunlight.

You’ll want to plant sage in the garden at least 24 to 36 inches apart from other plants so that every plant has plenty of room to grow.

In addition, you can use companion planting when choosing where to plant sage in the garden to ensure it gets the sunlight it needs.

For example, sage plants can grow anywhere between 12 and 30 inches tall.

So, you can put your sage plant in front of another plant that needs less sunlight and is shorter. Then your sage will get more sunlight in the afternoon while protecting another plant.

You can read more about companion planting with sage here.

Where To Plant Russian Sage

Once again, Russian sage is similar to other sage plants. So, you’ll want to plant it in a sunny spot.

It should receive full sun and be placed at least 24 inches apart from other plants in the garden.

Will Sage Grow In Shade?

Believe it or not, sage can grow well in the shade. However, it can only grow in partial shade.

As mentioned before, a sage plant requires medium to full sunlight to thrive. If you place it in a spot in the garden that receives medium sunlight but lots of shade in the afternoon, you can be sure that your sage will continue to grow well.

However, if you leave your sage plant in complete shade all the time, then it will not grow well. After some time, the plant will die.

What Are The Sun Requirements When Growing Sage In A Pot?

If you decide to grow your sage in a pot, its sun needs remain the same.

For example, if you have a potted sage plant in your house, then you’ll want to put it in a sunny room. Place it by a sunny windowsill so that your herb can get medium to full sunlight every day.

Alternatively, if it’s too hard to do that, you can buy an LED grow lamp or sun lamp to mimic the sun.

On the other hand, you don’t need to leave your sage plant inside the house when it’s in the pot. You can move it outside for some time and then bring it in at night. Or, you can leave it outside during the cool-weathered seasons and bring it in for winter and summer.

The potted sage can fit right in your garden along with the other plants. It can be decor for the garden, while still growing it in a pot. 

Can Sage Grow In Winter?

Yes, sage can grow well in winter. In fact, this plant is considered a cold-hardy herb.

Depending on the zone you grow sage in, this plant is considered evergreen. This means it grows all year long, surviving the winter.

In some areas, it’s perennial, which means that your sage plant will grow back the following season. So, if it grows well in the fall and spring, it can survive the summer and winter months, growing back year after year.

The best time to plant this herb is when the temperature is around 65 degrees F or shortly before you have the final frost of the season.

The plant will bloom in the summer, but it’ll continue to grow over the winter.

Read my full guide to sage and winter here.

What Soil Conditions Does Sage Need?

Sage prefers to have well-draining soil that’s sandy or loamy. The pH levels of the soil should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for your sage plant to thrive. My guide to the best soil for sage is here.

The reason this herb prefers to have sandy soil is that they don’t like to have too much water. Therefore, once you water this plant, the soil should drain the excess water enough.

Otherwise, the roots will remain wet and could potentially rot or get moldy under the soil.

In addition, the soil should have plenty of nutrients in it. However, you can add fertilizer to the soil if you want. It’ll help the plant grow faster.

On the other hand, if you add fertilizer to your sage’s soil, the flavor of this herb will become more subtle. 

Final Words on Sage Sunlight requirements

When it comes to growing sage, the sun is an essential factor. This hardy herb can grow in partial shade, and it can also handle medium sunlight. However, if you want your sage plant to truly thrive, the best thing to do is give it full sunlight for at least six hours a day.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out how to freeze sage and here to find out how big sage grows. You can also find all my sage guides here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post How Much Sun Does Sage Need? Where To Plant Sage appeared first on Gardening Chief.