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Sage
Salvia officinalis
Silver-leaved, always in reach, indispensable at Sunday lunch.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Occasional
Soil
Well-drained, pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing
60 cm apart
Days to harvest
80 days
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Seasonal Calendar
S
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Start from cuttings or plants
Faster than seed. Semi-ripe cuttings in July root readily.
- 2
Trim after flowering
Cut back by a third to keep plants compact.
- 3
Replace every 4–5 years
Old plants get leggy. Take cuttings before removing the parent.
Common problems
Leggy growth
Trim yearly and replace with young plants.
Rotting in winter
Improve drainage; avoid heavy mulch.
Good neighbors
RosemaryCabbageCarrot
Field tips
- “Purple and variegated sages are as good in the kitchen as they are ornamental.”
- “Fry whole leaves in butter — a 30-second transformation.”