How to grow... Sage

Rocket Growing Guides

Sage

Sage is a really useful herb to have in the garden especially as you can use it all year round. It’s a particularly good winter herb that is great for roasts and stews.

  • Planting Tips
  • Growing advice
  • Chef's Corner
Choosing a site for growing veg

The right site

Shelter and well drained soil are the two key things for sage.

growing veg in pots and raised beds

Can be grown in....

Large containers or raised beds.

Autumn Winter Large Vegetable Garden

How far apart?

50cm apart or one plant to a large pot.

When your herb plants arrive....

Your baby plants will arrive carefully packed in straw. They may look a little tired from their travels. This is quite normal but, as soon as possible, carefully unpack them all.

Then, stand them upright. The roots may be dry, so give them all a good drink of water by submerging the roots for a few minutes in a container of clean water. Now they are ready to plant.

This herb plant is an evergreen

This means that it can be used all year round.

Looking after your plants....

As long as you give sage what it needs – a little shelter and well drained soil – you will be able to harvest it at any time of the year.

Sage

Cut back before autumn

A little trim at the end of the summer will keep your sage plant nice and bushy.

Sage

Watering them

Sage does not need much watering and does not like to be waterlogged.

 

They're ready to harvest when....

Pick off leaves as and when you want them. The younger leaves have better flavour.

Jargon Buster

Annual – a plant that completes its entire lifecycle in one year

Perennial – a plant that “dies” down at the end of the season, but comes back to life again year after year

Biennial – a plant that takes 2 years to complete its lifecycle before dying

Sage

Great with...

Sage can be used in loads of dishes and you don’t need to use very much of it.

  • Pumpkin and Squashes
  • Stuffing
  • Pork
  • Sage butter with tortellini

Types to try