"Growing sage in your herb garden..."
And poultry dishes just aren't the same without a little sage thrown in!   Growing sage - positioning:Sage likes a well-drained soil in full sun. As the plant gets older it doesn't mind very dry conditions. Sage grows as a bushy shrub and you'll need to give it some space to get going. The plant will last many years, although it's preferable to replace sage every 3 or 4 years as the shrub tends to become woody and sprawling. Sage doesn't like a very acid soil, but will be happy to grow in most soil conditions as long as the ground isn't permanently wet. Sage tends to suffer quickly from mildew.
Growing sage from seed takes a bit more time but is more satisfying! Thompson & Morgan have online seed ( and plant ) deliveries available... You'll only need one or two sage plants in a regular back garden, and you should allow about 2ft. or just over half a metre for the bush to grow. Water your plants in and keep weed-free. Growing sage - after care:During the first summer, water sage regularly, and check the soil is draining well. You don't want the roots sitting in water. If the plant is healthy and growing there shouldn't be a problem. Let plants reach about 9 or 10 inches (25cm) high before you start picking the leaves. Be very frugal with picking during the first year. You may feel it's better to leave well alone during the first year of growth. Check growing instructions on your plant or seed packet for recommendations in your region. Mulch during the plant's first winter, and don't worry about it after that. During the second and subsequent years, you should pick your sage leaves freely. After flowering, cut the shrub down to a couple of inches above the ground and it may give you another harvest. Leave a couple of stems so the plant remembers what it's supposed to be doing! An established sage plant will tolerate very cold conditions and very dry. All in all a hardy plant to have around! Growing sage - Storing:Sage will store well and is one herb that doesn't lose a lot of taste when dried. Drying: Hang stems or lay on racks in a dry airy place and turn regularly. When leaves are completely dry, crumble and store in airtight glass jars. Keep out of direct light. Remember to label! Freezing: Freeze leaves quickly on trays or in bags. Store in plastic containers and label.
Medicinal: As mentioned above, sage was believed to make you wiser. It has certainly always been used as a healing herb for anything from tonsilitis to menopausal night sweats. Sage does have certain toxins and shouldn't be taken in large quantities. As with all herbal remedies care should be taken when self-medicating. Culinary: Sage has been used as a stuffing or an accompanying vegetable to poultry dishes for eons! Sage and onion stuffing is easy to make and can be served with vegetarian meals, poultry dishes, crumbled into stews to thicken and flavour, or sliced and added to sandwiches! In my Grow Your Own Winter Food book there are a number of sage recipes including a traditional sage and onion stuffing :-) Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions. ("More about growing sage in this great book!")  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Garden Herbs Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingsage.html |
