Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Sage is a woody Mediterranean perennial that thrives in lean, dry, alkaline-leaning soils where most plants struggle. It demands full sun and excellent drainage above all else — wet roots in winter are its primary killer. Start from seed (slow, 10–21 days) or, more reliably, from stem cuttings or divisions. Plant in soil with pH 6.0–7.0, amended with coarse sand or grit if drainage is poor. Space plants 45–60cm apart. Established sage needs minimal water — deep watering every 7–14 days in summer, almost none in winter. Fertilize lightly in spring only with a balanced slow-release fertilizer; heavy feeding produces large, flavorless leaves. Prune in early spring, cutting back by one-third to one-half, always cutting into green wood — never into old, bare wood, which will not regenerate. Replace plants every 3–4 years as they become excessively woody.
