Sage

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Start sage indoors 8 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart.

Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended
  1. Start indoors8 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestsummer to fall, once established

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestsummer to fall, once established

Growing sage

Spacing in the row
18 in (46 cm)
Between rows
30 in (76 cm)
Planting depth
1/4 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, average to poor soil (pH balanced is acceptable).
Germination
10-21 days at 65-70°F
Harvest season
Summer to Fall
Mature height
18-30 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 4
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow seeds lightly covered, or transplant starts after last frost into well-drained soil.

Watering. Water moderately until established, then drought-tolerant. Avoid overwatering.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

Feeding

Seedlings
Light liquid feed (half strength) after true leaves appear.
Growing
Minimal; established plants rarely need fertilizer beyond an annual compost dressing.
How often
Once a year, in early spring, for established plants. Seedlings: every 2-4 weeks until established.
Note
Over-fertilization can reduce flavor and vigor.

Your sage, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add sage to your planting calendar →

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