Sage
Perennial plant with aromatic leaves that can be used fresh or dried.
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A gorgeous aroma and flowers to boot, sage is the perfect garden companion. The flowers help attract bees to the garden and can even be tossed into salads for a splash of colour. Don’t forget its traditional uses, too – flavouring pork or poultry dishes, adding to stuffing or mixed into egg dishes. It’s certainly a herb worth growing in your garden or balcony!
How to grow sage in a garden
- Choose a spot in your garden that sits mostly in full sun with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Sow seeds, cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Once seedlings appear, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Water when the soil is dry and harvest regularly by picking the leaves. Pinch the flowers to encourage more leafy growth.
How to grow sage in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 300mm wide and position in full sun. Fill pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Sow seeds, cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and water well.
- Once seedlings appear, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Water when the soil is dry and harvest regularly by picking the leaves. Remove the flowers to encourage more leafy growth.
- Harvest regularly by picking the leaves. Sow seeds every few weeks to extend your harvest window.
Growing tips
Grow as a border around vegetables to attract bees and repel insect pests.
Sage is pretty tough once established and can tolerate dry conditions. Although, a good deep drink during summer will help keep the plant looking fresh.
Remove or ‘pinch’ blooms to encourage more leafy growth. However, the flowers are beautiful and if you choose to let it flower, lightly prune after flowering. Do not cut back to the woody stems.
Replace every 3-4 years, once the plant becomes sparse and woody.
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Vietnamese Mint is an evergreen perennial herb, popular throughout Asia. The peppery tasting leaves are great for garnishing and flavouring salads, soups and stews.
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a pungent, attractive herb that can infuse and uplift your tea or why not add a couple of fresh leaves to garnish desserts and garden salads.
Hyssop
Hyssop is an aromatic, bushy, perennial herb. The dark green, narrow leaves have a bitter/sage/minty taste that will add flavour to soups & stews.
Basil
Basil is a deliciously fragrant, quick growing herb that pairs perfectly with tomatoes, garlic and lemon.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
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