Sun
Full sun, except for hot summer sun, then part shade.
Water
After established, can handle periods of dry except in “dog days of summer”, regular water, 1” per week.
Soil
Sandy, well drained soil with organic compost mixed in. PH should be slightly acid, 6-6.5.
Fertilizer
As with most herbs, not particularly fussy about fertilizer unless you want to produce flowers.
Although quite pretty, they are not used in cooking. Once a year application of organic fertilizer in the spring & a top dressing of compost should be adequate
Hardiness
- Common Sage & most other culinary Sages: Zone 5-10
- In colder areas, provide good drainage, let soil dry out some in the fall and delay mulching till first frost Prune in late winter and maybe you’ll get lucky!
- Pineapple Sage: Zones 9 & 10
- Grown as an annual in colder areas. In marginal areas, may try cutting back 2/3 of the plant and mulching till spring. Perennial in mild winter areas, dies back in fall, will re-sprout following spring.
View All Hardiness Zones
Find Your Hardiness Zone
Planting & Care
3 ways to start plants:
- Propagated by seed sown shallowly indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost, or outdoors in late spring. Germination is fairly successful.By division (most reliable). Dig up plants and separate off sections with roots at the base of the plant. Great way to bring small plants potted up indoors for winter use.
- By layering of stems to form roots before cutting. Simply bend stems on outer edge to ground and pin down with rock or something else, and mound soil over top for the season. Roots should grow and new rooted shoot can be cut from mother plant and replanted.
- Easily grown in containers and makes a very attractive filler plant.
Blooms come in summer with small purple, blue, white, or lavender flowers on spikes rising above the plant.
To use for culinary purposes, pinch tips often, to delay blooming for better leaf production and taste.
Pineapple Sage grows to 3-4 ft. tall. Propagate by seed or take tip cuttings in the summer and overwinter in containers until spring. Also, may propagate by division or layering of stems,( scarifying the stem and then bury in dirt till roots form, then cut off from the mother plant).Grows with branching, brittle stems that need support in part shade. Grow as an annual in colder climates. More wider, less succulent leaves than common sage. Paler green leaves, also. Blooms come in spring in the south, summer farther north. Flowers are tubular bright scarlet on spikes at end of stem.
Enemies, Pests & Diseases
Pests
Pests and diseases are few, except for aphids and whiteflies, which can be controlled with soapy sprays or insecticidal soap sprays. Slugs and snails may be a problem, hand pick at night with flashlight or drown them in bowls of stale beer placed at ground level.
A spray made of infused sage has been used as a repellent for imported cabbageworms and white cabbage moths on broccoli and cabbage plants.
- Tiny little bugs that are carried onto the plant by ants.
- Generally not a big problem but you may spray with tobacco tea or insecticidal soap.
- Beneficials like ladybugs are a big help but only come around if you don’t use pesticides and if plenty of bugs to eat.
- Tiny white bugs that are quite obvious. When plant is tapped, they disperse around it.
- Minor infestations can be controlled by a soapy spray made from dish soap or baby shampoo, saturate plants when the sun goes down and repeat in 7 days to get the new hatchlings.
- More serious problems need stronger sprays of Natrasoap, Biogarlic spray or Neem oil spray. Tobacco sprays also may work.
- Companion plants in the tobacco family will help repel
- Plants tend to be more susceptible if soil is deficient in magnesium and phosphorus.
Diseases
Provide good air circulation to deter fungal disease and don’t let soil get soggy.
- A white, dusty film on leaves and stems.
- Caused by various fungi and bacteria causing spots on the leaves.
- Usually spread from wind or splashing water.
- Control by destroying infected leaves, water only in the morning and space plants far enough apart for good air circulation.
- One may also use mushroom compost which helps introduce beneficial fungi to combat the bad.
- A diluted solution of baking soda spray will protect healthy foliage but not already infected.
- A white fungal growth near the base of the plant with a brownish crust in the soil.
- Prevent by not burying the crown of the plants with mulch or compost or when transplanting.
- Only water in mornings and provide good circulation around plants.
- Practice crop rotation.
Harvest & Storage
The best time to harvest is before the plant flowers.
The first season, when the plant reaches at least 8 inches, pinch back a couple of times to encourage branching. The following years, keep pinched back to keep shape and provide fresh sprigs.
Do not wash. If dirty, rinse plant with a hose a day before you pick. Pick in the morning after the dew has dried. Dry by hanging small bunches in a dry place out of direct sun. Or place whole leaves on a screen or paper toweling to dry. Use fresh or dry (dry will be stronger so use less).
Store in glass jars or zipper bags when they reach a leathery stage, but not too brittle. Best used within a year.
In the Kitchen
Leaves are edible. Just snip whorls of leaves at ends of stems and either slice, mince or use whole. Provides a pungent, earthy flavor to stuffing, poultry, pork, breads, cheese spreads, and winter squash.
Pineapple Sage, due to it’s pineapple scent and flavor, Pineapple Sage is a favorite for tropical drinks and dishes. Goes excellent with pork chops or pork tenderloin. Add to dishes late in the cooking process, so subtle flavor is not cooked away. May use leaves and flowers. Infuse in iced tea for flowery, fresh accent.
Nutritional Facts
Sage has minimal nutrition in the small amounts that would be used.
Resources
Stargazer Perennials – organic plants, Purple and Tricolor
Territorial Seed Company – seeds and plants, Common, ‘Grower’s Friend”, & Pineapple
RH Shumway’s – Great prices, seeds for Common, plants for Pineapple
SEEDSofCHANGE – organic seeds of common sage
Pinetree Garden Seeds – Clary sage and Common