by C.M. Tucker

Created on: February 14, 2007   Last Updated: July 09, 2011

Most varieties of sage are easy to grow and it thrives in poor soil.  Planting and managing sage can be optimized for production or ornamentation.  Companion planting is also a useful function of planting sage.

Growing sage is much like growing mint. It is often an aggressive plant.   It benefits from  pruning or cutting after it flowers to keep it healthy and coming back every year.

When this item is planted from seed purchased at a store, make sure to read the instructions on back for soil type and other useful information. Not all sage varieties are the same. There are over 900 varieties. There's even one that causes hallucinations. other helpful growing tips.

If planting your sage near mint plants, the mint usually takes over because it propagates differently and more voraciously. Sage also does well in well-drained pots.

COMPANION PLANTING:  In companion planting, Clary sage near cabbage is supposed to keep the white butterflies away. 

One thing to keep in mind about any form of companion planting is that some plants ‘don’t like each other’ while others are more ‘friendly’.  The same can be said of how plants ‘feel’ about insects.  management.

All plants take and give to the soil they are in.  Plants that add nitrogen to the soil are beneficial to leafy plants like lettuce or chard.  While some plants add toxins into the soil that are toxic to the plants it wants to keep away from it. pH.

Sage can be planted near cabbage, broccoli, rosemary, strawberries, carrots and tomatoes.  Don’t plant near cucumbers, rue or onions since growth of the plants may become inhibited as a result of the combination with sage. 

It should be noted that sage leaves can repel honeybees.  So, it’s not advisable to plant them near plants or crops that need to be pollinated by them. Herbs and bees.  Allowing the sage to flower might change this aspect.

MANAGING THE PLANT:  If allowed to grow wild, sage becomes spindly and often sparse.  Trimming back the ends occasionally will help produce more leaves and shoots. herbs.

Sage loves sunlight but isn’t too greedy about it.  So, it needs to be planted where it can get good amounts of sunlight without getting totally scorched in the process.  Some varieties, like the ones growing wild in New Mexico (USA), thrive in full sunlight in desert soil.

Other sites that may be useful:

Reasons why sage might not grow:  http://www.herbcompanion.com/in-the-herb-garden/grow ing-tips-for-herbs-why-is-my-sage-dying.aspx

Garden Web on pH: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/herbs/msg061 0551918949.html

How to test soil for pH: http://www.howtogardenadvice.com/soil_prep/ph_soil_t esting.html

A sample list of plants and their pH: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_pH

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