Some aromas can bring back happy memories.
Growing sage and using it to cook wonderful holiday meals is something your family will always remember.
With the cost of herbs rising at the grocery store, planting your own herb garden is a decision that makes sense. An additional bonus is the enjoyment of using fresh ingredients in your meals. All the savings you earn gardening, leaves you a surplus of time and money to put back into your garden
Sage is also known as Salvia Officinalis, and goes far back in time. Even in Roman times, they thought that growing sage could impart wisdom and improve mental agility. Perhaps that is the reason we never forget our favourite meals cooked with sage.
Sage is a long lasting plant, that can last for up to 5 years. This herb is a native to the Mediterranean, and tends to grow well in most soils. Like Thyme, sage enjoys direct sunlight. The growing sage needs watering once every seven days. It is better to water the herb more during hot seasons, if you live in a high temperature climate.
Always sow the seeds indoors within two and a half months before planting out-doors. It is best to water the seeds with warm water.
At the time of seed germination, place the planted seedlings where they will receive full sunlight. When growing sage, it requires temperatures of 65F degrees. Water the soil slightly damp.
Use a bed of well draining soil. Add a half-cup of bone meal two times during summer while the sage is still growing.
The fastest way to start growing sage is to purchase in pots from the garden center.
After the frost has past, in one quick stop at the garden shop, you can have sage in the bag! This might remove the fun of getting your hands dirty, but it is a time saving direction to go. You can plant the store bought sage directly in the garden.
In an area that has a shallow water table, growing sage can be undertaken in raised beds or containers. Protect the plants from extreme weather conditions.
Harvest sage leaves just before the plant starts to bloom. To harvest, cut the leaves, leaving about half of the foliage on each branch.
To dry sage, spread the leaves out on a window screen in a ventilated area away from direct sunlight. The dried leaves can then be stored in jars or zip-lock storage bags.
When growing sage, you may notice the plants becoming “woody” after a few years.
It is time to turn over a new leaf. Either start again from seed, or use cuttings from another plant. Growing sage will ’self sow’ by themselves if left to flower and set seed.
Growing sage benefits–
The health benefits of growing sage have been handed down to us from ancient wisdom.
Herb tea made with sage is a stimulant used to treat all sorts of ailment and disorders. It is also good for clean teeth and promotes healthy gums.
Sage tea compresses help to get rid of headaches.
Cold sage tea helps with hot flashes during menopause for women.
Dress the Thanksgiving turkey with aromatic sage to make the meal complete. The herb is now used year round in poultry seasoning. There are countless foods and recipes that simply wouldn’t be complete without the addition of this wonderful herb.
And every cook, chef and home maker knows that a kitchen is never complete without a bundle of sage.
Do not leave sage out in the cold!
Every family should have a try at growing sage.
