Sage

By Brian Hetrich Greenhouse Manager

Sage is a wonderfully fragrant plant to add to your collection of herbs. Herbs like sage are used not only to flavor our foods but to heal our wounds. The taste of sage can be described as earthy, savory, pungent, aromatic, and slightly bitter. Sage aids with the digestion of fats. For culinary use it can be used beneficially in soups and stews that contain avocado, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and other fatty foods.

Besides the culinary purposes sage has a long history of being used therapeutically for a wide range of ailments:

• Memory loss associated with the disease like Alzheimer's
• Muscle stiffness
• Rheumatism
• Neuralgic conditions, nervousness, anxiety
• Headaches
• Sore throats and coughs
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating

Growing sage has been associated with success and longevity. Traditionally, sage has been used for cleansing is thought to be capable of making our dreams come true.

Sage comes in many colorful varieties and growth habits. Johnny’s Seeds has a broad selection of different sage seeds. In zones 5 to 8 you can start your seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. Plant in a starting tray such as a standard nursery flat filled with organic potting mix. Choose a well-lit area preferably next to window that receives plenty of sun. Otherwise you can grow on a table or counter using full spectrum grow lights or plant lights. Ideally, you should locate your plants close to the kitchen since this is where you will most likely be using them and this will also make watering more convenient. Keep the soil moist.

After plant reaches maturity you can transplant your sage to your outdoor garden. It is an evergreen and in Zones 5 to 8 can be considered a perennial plant. In zones 9 and 10 it should be planted in the Fall and should be considered as an annual because it rarely survives the intense heat of the harsh summer months.

'How can a man grow old who has sage in his garden?'' - Ancient Chinese Proverb