Sage is an aromatic and versatile herb that is prized for its medicinal properties. While you must be familiar with the more commonly grown herbs like turmeric, tulsi, cardamom, mint, etc., sage can go quite unnoticed by gardeners. However, thanks to its innumerable benefits like boosting digestion, reducing weight, and also improving heart health, it is recommended that you grow it in your home garden.
Given the climate of India and the tropical weather requirements for growing sage, your kitchen garden could be the perfect place to plant the herb. Not only will the medicinal herb add greenery to your garden, but it will also act as a natural insect repellant, thus protecting other plants in your kitchen garden. So, why don’t you follow some easy tips and get a healthy harvest of sage?
Picking The Right Variety
Sage comes in many different varieties, each suiting to different climates. Here are some popular varieties suitable to the Indian climate.
- Common Sage is the most popular variety for culinary use. It can grow well in moderate to hot temperatures, the same as most states of India.
- Pineapple Sage is known for its fruity fragrance and unique red-coloured flowers, which thrive in humid weather.
- Clary Sage is the variant which is used for medicinal purposes. It is more adapted to grow in cooler areas like Northern hill stations.
Preparing The Soil
After you have picked the right variant of sage based on your weather conditions, the next step is to prepare the soil. Usually, sage thrives in well-draining soil, which has a slightly alkaline environment. So, you can maintain the pH between 6.0 to 7.5. To ensure that the sage plant gets proper nutrition, add compost to make the soil fertile.
Sunlight Requirements
One of the non-negotiable requirements for sage to grow is direct sunlight for about 6-8 hours. That being said, in hotter places like Northern India, ensure that the sage plants don’t get sunburnt by placing them in partial shade. If you’re planting sage in containers, you can simply move it to a spot to adjust its exposure to the sun throughout the year.
Techniques To Water
Sage is an herb that can tolerate dry climate conditions. If you are planting sage in the monsoon season, it is important that the soil isn’t waterlogged. If you’re sowing the seeds in any other season, you can try watering the herb only after checking the top two inches of the soil. You can also add mulch on the sides of the sage plant to retain moisture.
Pruning And Harvesting
A healthy tip to maintain a healthy yield of any plant is constant pruning. If sage is not pruned regularly, in case of a humid climate, it can grow woody, thus affecting the growth of its leaves. So, you can trim the sage plant, especially after it flowers. After 3-4 months of sowing the seeds, typically, the sage plant matures and is ready to be harvested.