Sage works wonders for colds and refines various dishes as a spice. We will show you what needs to be considered when planting and caring for them.
The real sage (Salvia officinalis) is a popular spice and medicinal plant, which is at home in the Mediterranean region, but has now spread throughout Europe. The warmth-loving, aromatic plants adorn cottage gardens and give meat and fish dishes a very special touch. The tradition of sage as a medicinal plant goes back a long way. Today we benefit from this after eating a sumptuous meal, because sage makes heavy food more digestible.
Small description of plants
| Sage (Salvia officinalis) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | 35 - 40 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 60 cm |
| Plant Supplies: | 40 cm planting distance, 6 to 8 pieces per m² |
| Usage: | Herb garden, open spaces, cottage garden, aromatic plant, medicinal plant |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | slightly dry to fresh, well-drained, low in humus, calcareous |
It is a perennial subshrub that grows about half a meter high. If the site conditions are ideal, plant heights of one meter cannot be ruled out.
The common sage develops weak stalks. These can be square to rounded and are heavily branched. The leaves appear in pairs and are opposite. The oblong, egg-shaped leaves can grow almost ten centimeters long and reach a width of about five centimeters. The leaf surfaces are covered with a whitish felt, giving the plant a grey-green tint.
The stems become lignified on older plants. The upper leaves have shorter stalks than the leaves appearing at the lower ends of the stalks. Older leaves may be bare on top. If you examine a sage leaf with a magnifying glass, you will be able to make out the small oil glands that contain the essential oils responsible for the fragrance and medicinal properties of the plant.
Use and benefits
The aromatic and slightly spicy taste of common sage givesAdd a spicy, Mediterranean note to fish, poultry, game or meat dishes. The sage can be used raw or finely chopped for soups, sauces or poultry stuffing. In many places in Germany, a traditional pastry with sage cakes is served at the fair.
Tip: Sage can prevent fats from going rancid quickly.
Sage contains numerous active ingredients:
- essential oils
- tannins
- Bitter substances
- Flavonoids
Sage tea is commonly served in many countries. Sage contains thujone. This component of essential oils is toxic in overdose.
Warning: Sage tea is not recommended for long-term consumption.
While the spice only found its way into kitchens in the Middle Ages, its importance as a medicinal plant goes back much further. Common sage is valued for its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Sage tea is recommended as a gargle solution for inflammation in the mouth and throat. If the tea is drunk, it can help against excessive sweating. Digestive problems can also be relieved.
Plant sage
Find the right location
The common sage is a fairly undemanding plant, which prefers to grow on stony and rocky surfaces. The location should be sunny and warm. In the herb bed, the plant is quickly visited by numerous insects.
Cultivation in a planter is also possible. Clay pots have proven their worth here. Sage thrives particularly well on south-facing balconies.
Selecting the ideal floor
Preference is given to lean soil. A sandy soil is very suitable. Loamy soils should be prepared with lava. A particularly nutrient-rich soil, which does not appear permeable enough and thus promotes waterlogging, is not suitable for the cultivation of sage.
Tip: Herb soil mixed with sand is suitable for pot cultivation.
Planting instructions - step by step
1. Select location
2. Prepare the soil
3. Dig the planting hole
4. Insert the plant in the middle
5. Close the planting hole
6. Press the soil down lightly
7. Water the plant well
The soil should be freed from roots, weeds and stones. Soil that is too heavy must be loosened. Garden lime can be mixed in to promote plant growth. The planting hole should be at least twice the diameter of the root ballbe excavated. After inserting the plant, the soil is filled up and pressed down well. Water the soil sufficiently.
An overview of the most important planting tips
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • sunny • warm • sheltered from the wind |
| Prepare the ground | • permeable • lean • calcareous |
| planting | • Cultivation from March on the windowsill • Outdoors from May • Pot cultivation possible |
Experience biodiversity
Purple sage (Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens') © Maria Brzostowska / Stock.adobe.com
Colourful sage (Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor') © Astrid Gast / Stock.adobe.com
Yellow Sage (Salvia Officinalis 'Icterina') © Riccardomotti / Stock.adobe.com
White Sage (Salvia Officinalis 'Alba') © Etfoto / Stock.adobe.com
Broad-leaved sage (Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten') © Fabian / Stock.adobe.com
Pink Sage (Salvia Officinalis 'Rosea') © Marina / Stock.adobe.com
Not all sage is the same. Different species of the spice plant expand the color spectrum in the herb garden. The pink spice sage flowers in midsummer and is a popular bee pasture. The pink flowers also make it an ornamental plant.
The particularly compact growth and the broad leaves characterize the sage "Berggarten". The short-growing variety “Dwarf” creates contrasts. Pretty white flowers characterize the "Alba" variety.
With their pretty foliage, the species "Tricolor", "Purpurascens" and "Icterina" are eye-catchers in ornamental and kitchen gardens.
Caring for common sage
Water the real sage correctly
The common sage needs regular watering. Howeverthe hobby gardener should not overdo it with watering. Originally, sage grew on dry mountain slopes. He rarely experienced precipitation. Therefore, the plant does not cope with waterlogging. Drought, on the other hand, is tolerated remarkably well. Watering should be moderate, especially on hot days.
Tip: Before watering, do a finger test - if the soil is about fingernail-deep dry, you should water it. If the substrate still feels wet, it does not need to be watered yet.
Fertilize sage correctly
The common sage is also frugal in terms of nutrient supply. Sage in the herb garden does not need to be fertilized regularly. It is sufficient to incorporate some compost mixed with sand during planting.
If the common sage is cultivated in a plant pot, its nutrient requirement increases. Fertilize at regular intervals during the spring and summer growing season.
How to cut real sage
No pruning is necessary for young plants. Older plants lignify easily from below. If the sage is cut back in the spring, woodification can be stopped. Furthermore, the plant grows more attractively and does not tend to break apart. A pruning stimulates the growth of the leaves.
Tip: The pruning should not go too far into the old wood.
If you want to prevent the sage from sowing itself diligently in the garden bed, you should remove withered flowers regularly.
An overview of the most important care tips
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Casting | • water moderately • avoid waterlogging • longer dry periods are tolerated |
| Fertilize | • low nutrient requirement • compost when planting • fertilize potted plants regularly |
| Cut | • cut back in spring • do not cut too far into old wood • pruning promotes growth |
Propagating common sage
Propagation of common sage is possible by seeds, division and cuttings.
Propagation by seeds
Sage seeds can be sown as early as February and grown on a sunny windowsill. The common sage is one of the light germs. The seeds are consequently scattered on the substrate and only slightly pressed into the soil, but not completely covered with soil. After about two weeks, germination beginsa.In mid-May, when ground frost is no longer to be expected, the pre-grown plants can go outside. It is also possible to sow directly outdoors from May. However, it will then take longer until the first sage can be harvested.
Reproduction by division
If the plant is well developed, the common sage can also be propagated by division. For this purpose, the plant is first carefully removed completely from the ground. The soil is shaken off the root ball. This gives you the opportunity to check the condition of the plant and to remove any diseased or dead root parts.
Sage plants are easy to part with hands. In this way, the hobby gardener quickly receives two plants of equal value, which can now be transplanted separately and cultivated as usual. It is important to ensure that both plants have sufficient root networks.
Propagation by cuttings
Propagation by cuttings guarantees well-developed plants quickly. A prerequisite for this is a strong mother plant.
Propagation by cuttings step by step:
- Cut cuttings
- Remove Sheets
- Put the cuttings in the ground
- Wait for rooting
A strong shoot from an older mother plant is suitable as a cutting. This should be cut in spring or early summer. Then the plant copes with the intervention best and can close its wound quickly.
In order for the cutting to put its energy into developing the roots, only one pair of leaves is left on the stem. The shoot is placed in potting soil and lightly watered. If new shoots appear, successful propagation can be assumed.
Recognize and combat diseases on common sage
The common sage is robust and hardly affected by diseases. However, mistakes in care cause problems and lead to infestation with spider mites or powdery mildew. This happens when you have over-watered or the plants have been over-watered.
The pests can be eliminated with simple home remedies. A solution of nine parts water and one part milk helps against powdery mildew. The mixture is put in a spray bottle and the plants are regularly treated with it.
Spider mites can be combated naturally with kieselguhr. This insecticide does not harm the environment, but reliably kills the pests, while spider mites defend themselves against chemicalPesticides often prove resistant.
In the case of a stubborn infestation, the plants should be cut back generously. The pruning waste should not end up on the compost, but should be incinerated or disposed of with organic waste.
Winter sage
The common sage is perennial and usually survives the winter unscathed even in our latitudes. However, it should be borne in mind that this is a plant from the Mediterranean region. Especially frosts can be dangerous for the real sage. A cover of leaves or twigs protects the plant from frost damage.
If the common sage is cultivated in pots, overwintering outdoors is not advisable. Comparatively little substrate is available in the pot. The earth can quickly freeze completely and the sage can no longer absorb moisture and nutrients. Potted plants should be brought into the house before the first frosts and overwinter in a bright and frost-free place.
Harvest sage
The leaves of the sage plant can be harvested all year round. Particularly aromatic leaves can be picked before flowering. The sage leaves can be used fresh or dried. The intense taste will certainly take some getting used to, so sparing use is recommended.
Tip: You can use sage butter instead of the usual pasta sauce.