The seeds need light to germinate, and should be kept somewhere between 70° and 85°F. White sage will not grow well in soggy locations or in the shade. It’s not uncommon to have a … Fill the pot with a cactus soil mix. Sage should be planted in well-draining soil; it won’t tolerate sitting in wet soil. Then use a rooting powder to dip the ends into. How to Plant Sage. Plant the sage. It grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, but can also grow as an annual in other zones. After prepping your soil, you can plant the sage either in pots or in the ground. Share, Pin, and Comment Below . Be sure to mist the tray regularly, and avoid waterlogged soil. Here are some of the benefits of burning white sage: Physical Healing. Plant them about 1/4 inch deep in a light seedling mixture. A pack of sage seeds (salvia officinalis) from Nickys Nursery for example costs just £1.25 for 70 seeds. Soil preparation: Grow sage in well-drained soil. Plant the white sage outside in the fall. Germination should occur within 14 to 21 days. If you'd like to keep your white sage plant in pots, you can certainly do so! Overwatering can cause mildew problems or kill the plant. White sage is native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. Water thoroughly to settle the soil. Outdoors, in containers, and hydroponics. Dip one end of the cutting into a … I’ve always found the seeds can be a bit hit and miss. How to Grow Sacred White Sage (Salvia apiana) NATIVE HABITAT. Successfully learning how to grow sage plant indoors will include using the right soil too. Best location: Plant sage in full sun; sage will tolerate partial shade but the flavor of leaves will be diminished. http://learn-how-to-garden.comI hope you enjoy the second of my videos on herbs, this one being Sage, a brilliant herb in my book. Start seeds inside about eight weeks before the last frost. California white sage (salvia apiana) is a perennial shrub that can grow to almost five feet tall and four feet wide which is revered by Native American Indians. I use well-rotted manure and general fertilizer. Do this by filling small potting trays with potting mix and spreading the seeds on top of the soil. Growing your own white sage for personal use is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of over harvesting. White sage (Salvia apiana) is a small evergreen shrub native to the Southwest, particularly California. In warm climates, white sage is a perennial evergreen. Over watering will kill the plant, especially during the summer months. Allow excess water to drain from the containers. Sage offers antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties to promote overall health and target emerging infections. For the soil method, follow the same directions to get cuttings of the sage. White sage grows as a perennial in those zones, but can also be grown as an annual in other zones. Preferred pH Range. I let the soil rest for a week before planting. The seeds need a temperature range between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. The plant has a history of use by Native Americans. Angel-Wing Begonia Germination Temperature, U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Guide: White Sage, Kansas State University Research and Extension: White Sage. Its leaves are evergreen, with a whitish tinge and they have a powerful aroma when they are crushed. Clay pots assist in drainage. Fill a planting tray or small pots with a seed-starting potting mix. Mist the soil with water so it is nice and moist. Try to limit your harvest to when it’s not flowering. If you are transferring a sage plant into the ground, then make sure to plant it at the same level as it was in the pot. Keep the plants in a sunny location and water them when the soil dries completely. Sandy loam is best but sage will grow in very average soil as well. You can either plant sage plants or plant seeds. Water the soil from the top until the excess water begins draining out the bottom. Do this by filling small potting trays with potting mix and spreading the seeds on top of the soil. Once the temperature has warmed outside and no danger of frost will come, it's time to transplant your white sage. In winter, try c… White sage thrives in warmth, so plant after the last frost in the spring. Plant Height. Ideally, the seeds should be kept at a temperature of 68-86 F (20-30 C). Sage is most commonly used in cooking as an accompaniment to white meat such as fish and chicken. If you choose to go the seed route, sow indoors for 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost under a plant light. To germinate, simply sprinkle the white sage seeds on the surface of the soil, then wet them down with clean water from a plant mister type spray bottle. A short-lived perennial (because it tends to look straggly after a few years), sage is a wonderful highlight herb, bringing contrast and colour to the herb garden. It also attracts beneficial insects to the garden with its spring and summer flowers and provides food to native wildlife. Take a four- to six-inch cutting from a mature plant that is at least a few years old. Water when the potting mix dries, but avoid making it soggy. Germination should take approximately 14 to 21 days. Growing Cultures. Use a sandy, cactus mix or something similar and fill up a seed tray or small 4 inch pots. Sage seeds will take about 3 weeks to germinate, and then … Choose a spot next to the house or a rock wall, if possible, where the soil stays warmer and the plant … Plant the cutting in the soil. Growing from seed or taking cuttings will mean a longer time until you have plants ready to harvest. Growing White Sage from Cuttings – You can also grow white sage from a cutting, though the success rate of this is only about 20 percent. If artificial light alone is used when growing sage in containers, give it 14 to 16 hours daily. The plant is native to central and southern California, with a gene center probably in Eastern San Diego County. – If starting off with containers, keep your seeds in a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. Set the pot in a window that receives full sunlight, such as a south-facing window, in a … Once the seeds grow true leaves, transplant the herbs to larger pots. It can be challenging to grow white sage from seeds because the germination rate is low. However, white sage seeds are notoriously bad at germinating. Remove a white sage seedling from a cell in the planting packs. Consequently, if you opt to grow from seed, you’ll need to overplant to compensate for the 30% or lower germination rate. Check the seeds regularly for moisture levels and sprouts. Also suited to pots, sage grows well in courtyards, balconies and windowsills. Place the seed tray or pots in a location that is room temperature. Mix in some sand or compost into the soil. … While the plant is not yet considered an endangered species, it has been vastly overharvested in its native environment and is considered to be at risk by United Plant Savers. How to Grow White Sage? The leaves grow in florets atop long stems, sometimes called sage wands, and appear tinted white due to the fine hairs that cover them. Keep the pots in a sunny location and water once the soil gets dry. White sage will not grow well in soggy locations or in the shade. Choose a location with full sun and well draining soil in your garden. This will improve with drainage, as white sage does not like soggy soil. 10 Indoor Gardening Ideas You Have to Try! Growing White Sage From Seed Seed is the most common way to grow new plants. The leaves are usually 4-8 centimeters long with a tapered base. Spread seeds on top of the potting medium and mist with water. If you do have to harvest wild sage, be proactive. Now that you know how to grow white sage, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting! Plant your sage into the soil firmly and tamp down. Start seeds indoors in early spring. Hardy in zones 8 through 11, white sage (Savia apiana), is a small evergreen shrub that's native to California. White sage (Salvia apiana) can grow to 3-5' in height and 4-6' wide (flowers spike to 9'+). White sage has many properties. She has training in landscaping and a certification in medicinal herbs from a botanical sanctuary. Dig a planting hole with a trowel twice as wide as the root ball. Plant Spacing. The leaves are described as crenulate - scalloped in laymen's terms. Sage is normally brought as ready-grown plants from garden centres, but you can grow from seed or take cuttings. This herb was used as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, but is also used for culinary purposes. Several sage varieties have variegated leaves: purple, yellow, green, or green and white. Native Americans have used white sage for its medicinal properties for centuries. While culinary sage is easy to grow, white sage is a bit pickier about growing conditions. Just be sure to place the pots in a sunny location and ensure that the soil and pot is well draining! © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Prune after flowering to encourage more growth. Give your plants a deep soak every two weeks at the most. Choose a sunny area for planting the white sage seedlings. The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. Plant sage in full sun. Appearance of White Sage. Sage, like most herbs, does not require a rich and fertile soil, but the potting medium must provide good drainage. Dig a planting hole with a trowel twice as wide as the root ball. 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