Sage In The Herb Garden
What Is Garden Sage
Garden sage is the best known group of sages used today. The dried sage you find in the supermarket is garden sage.
The grayish green leaves of garden sage are used as a culinary flavoring in many cuisines, and sage is the quintessential seasoning in Thanksgiving turkey stuffing.
Easy to grow, garden sage is a standard herb in most kitchen pantries. Garden sage is a hardy perennial plant with woody stems, and soft velvety leaves.
Garden sage blooms in June, and its flowers are also edible – generally lavender in colour, but depending on the variety sage blooms may vary from purplish pink to white.
Native to the northern Mediterranean coast, this sage is a standard herb in the herb gardener’s kitchen pantry.
Latin name: Salvia officinalis
Common Variations of Garden Sage
The standard Garden Sage plant with grayish green leaves is the sage plant sold in most garden centres.
However, there are a number of variations of garden sage, that can add colour and size interest to your kitchen and landscape gardens.
Golden sage – dark green leaves with creamy yellow splotched edges
Tricolor Sage – colourful leaves that are stunning in any garden border – each sage leaf is blotched with white, purplish pink and green
Purple sage – purply green leaves with purple veins
Dwarf sage – dwarf variation of standard garden sage. Great for borders and rock gardens
Mammoth sage – larger leaves than the standard sage variety
White dalmation sage – lighter and somewhat smaller leaves that are less bitter than the standard garden sage. Not to be confused with White Sage (Salvia apiana)
All these variations of garden sage can be used in the same manner in the kitchen.
How To Grow Garden Sage
The Beautiful Tricolor Sage
Garden sage is an easy herb to grow. And, because sage is a perennial, growing sage can reward you with an ample supply of sage leaves every year.
Garden sage grows best in full sun, and well-drained slightly alkaline soil. Once it is established, garden sage plants do not need much moisture.
Sage is an attractive plant that can also be grown as an ornamental in any garden. Garden sage also grows successfully in containers.
Starting Garden Sage Plants
If you will be starting your sage plants from seed, plant them indoors in spring, then transplant them to the garden once all danger of frost is past.
Test the germination of your sage seed before using, as sage seeds do not store well.
Starting sage from seed , although not that difficult, requires patience as it may take two years to get a plant large enough to use.
Sage can also be started by taking divisions of an existing plant, taking cuttings from an existing plant and rooting them, or purchasing a nursery plant.
Maintaining Your Sage Plant
Prune your garden sage plants in the spring. Also, clip off any branches that send up blooms. This will help make your sage plant bushier, and producing more leaves for you.
Once the sage plant becomes too woody and leggy, you may want to replace your sage plant.
Depending on your growing conditions, you may need to replace your sage plants every 3 to 4 years, as the woody stems become scraggly or your sage plant succumbs to the winter elements. However, many sage plants can grow for years.
Overwintering Garden Sage
Most garden sage varieties are hardy perennials ; hardy in zones 5 through 9. Below zone 5, mulch your garden sage, and it too may survive the winter.
A hard winter may kill your sage plant. Freezing and thawing spells can be detrimental to many perennials, including sage.
Purple sage and tricolor sage are less hardy than standard garden sage, and need to be protected with mulch over the winter.
Golden sage is the least hardy in colder climates – best grown in zone 7 or above. If you live in a colder climate, grow golden sage as an annual. You may also try wintering it indoors.
Growing Sage Indoors
Sage is more difficult to overwinter indoors than some other herbs. But it’s worth trying.
I have had mixed results overwintering sage in my home. Worst case though, I extend the availability of fresh sage for a couple of months, before the sage plant succumbs to winter’s low light levels and indoor growing conditions.
Not enough light is usually the case for the sage plants losing their leaves. To increase your success of growing sage indoors, choose the sunniest window you have. And, if it is feasible for you, grow your indoor sage plants under lights.
Harvesting And Storing Garden Sage
Sage leaves can be harvested whenever needed. When harvesting larger quantities to preserve for the winter, make sure you leave enough of your sage plant intact so the plant stays strong enough to survive the winter.
Sage leaves dry easily, and hold their shape for winter storage or crafting. Dry sage leaves as you would any other herb plant. The leaves dry easily spread out on a cloth or paper towels.
Sage leaves tend to keep their structure well on the plants over the winter. Sometimes in the winter, when I can reach the plant, I will pick off a couple of leaves to add to a roasting or stewing meat.
Cooking With Garden Sage
The dried sage herb has a much stronger and somewhat different taste than fresh sage. With both fresh and dried, sage is a strong herb so a little goes a long way.
Both dried and fresh sage lend their unique flavouring to enhance meats, poultry, game birds, and sausages.
Sage also pairs nicely with egg, cheese and bean dishes.
Add sage to soups and stews.
Deep fry fresh sage leaves, and serve along with roasted meats.
Fry fresh chopped save leaves with butter, to flavor pasta or gnocchi.
Snip sage flowers, and add to salads or use as a garnish.
Brew some sage tea on a cold day. I found that although it smells kind of musty, it is a very soothing drink in the winter.
To your herb gardening success,
Barb
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