I started growing sage a few years ago.   I don’t really use it much myself, so I tend to give most of the leaves away when it’s time to harvest.  I mainly grow it because it’s a beautiful, easy-to-care-for plant.     After much trial and error, I finally figured out exactly how and where to grow a sage plant successfully.

How to Grow a Sage Plant in a Container

You can grow sage from a seed, as long as the seed is fresh.  Old dried seeds will not do well, and will most likely never grow for you.  Your best bet is to do what I do: order sage plant seedlings and starting from there.   Sage plants actually prefer to grow in containers, versus growing directly in the ground.    Who knew plants could be agoraphobic?

To grow your sage plant seedling in a container, fill the container half-way up with a good potting soil.  Place the sage plant on top of the soil, and fill up the rest of the pot with more potting soil.    Make sure to use a pot or container that has drainage holes.  Sage plants need well-drained soil in order to grow properly.  If you’re using the kind of potting soil that holds on to moisture, mix in a good bit of sand in with it.

Where can you grow sage plants?

Sage plants like sun.  A lot of sun.  BUT, if you’re in the far south like I am, sage plants don’t like THAT much sun.      After seeing several of my sage babies shriveling up over the years, I figured out that in my zone (9a), sage plants prefer filtered sun.

Sage grows successfully in planting zones 5-9.    Sage plants are true sunbathers, and prefer to grow in bright, direct sunlight.  But, as I said, the further south you go, the less direct sun they can tolerate.   The sunlight, coupled with the intense heat of the south makes for intolerable conditions for a sage plant to grow in.  So if you’re in zones 8 and 9, move your plant to an area where it will receive filtered sunlight.  I have my sage growing in a container under a mesquite tree.

How to Grow a Sage Plant Indoors

If you’re wondering if a sage plant can be grown in a container indoors, the answer is yes.  It can.  But because the sage plant is such a sun lover, it will require a whole lot of sunlight.  Find the sunniest window in your house, and place the sage plant there.  If most of your home’s windows are shaded for most of the day, you would do best to place your little sage plant outside.

Originally posted 2009-08-08 14:34:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter