Crops › Sage
How to grow Sage
in the US
Sow March to May, plant out June, harvest May to September. About 90 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Sage is a cracking herb, really. It’s one of those plants that just keeps giving, bringing a lovely earthy flavor to your cooking and a bit of beauty to your backyard. On my plot, it's always a reliable friend, pretty easy to get going and not too fussy.
Sowing
Right then, for sowing sage, you're looking at a good window depending on your USDA zone. If you're in zone 3, aim for May. Zones 4 and 5 can start in April right through May. Further south, zones 6 and 7 can kick off in March, carrying on into April and May. Down in zone 8, you've got February all the way to May, and for zones 9 and 10, January through May, even December for a late start. Sow seeds about a quarter inch deep, maybe an inch or two apart in trays indoors, or direct sow outside once the last frost has passed and the soil's warmed up. You'll be harvesting in about 90 days, give or take.
Growing on
Once your little sage seedlings have a couple of true leaves, it's time to prick them out carefully into individual pots. Let them grow on a bit, getting strong and sturdy. Before planting them out into the garden, harden them off properly for a week or two, gradually getting them used to the outside world. Plant them about 18 to 24 inches apart. Sage likes a sunny spot and it's quite happy in a container too, if you're short on space.
Looking after it
Sage is pretty unfussy once it's settled in. Water it regularly when it's young, especially if it's in a pot, but mature plants don't need too much fuss, they like well-drained soil. You don't need to feed it much; a bit of compost worked into the soil before planting is usually plenty. Pinch back any flower stalks to encourage bushier growth, though the flowers are nice for the bees, you know.
What goes wrong
To be honest, sage doesn't get hit by too many problems. Slugs and snails might have a nibble when the plants are small, so keep an eye out and pick 'em off if you can. Aphids can sometimes gather on the new growth, but a good blast of water or a bit of insecticidal soap usually sorts them out without much bother. Companion planting with marigolds or nasturtium can sometimes help deter pests too.
Harvest
You can start harvesting sage leaves about 90 days after sowing. Just snip off what you need, picking the outer leaves first to encourage more growth from the center. You can keep harvesting from June right through to September, sometimes even longer if your weather holds. For storage, fresh leaves keep a few days in the fridge. For a proper stash, dry the leaves in a cool, dry place, or you can freeze them in ice cube trays with a bit of water or oil.
Now, I always plant a sage plant near my chicken coop. It's supposed to help keep the mites down and the chickens seem to like it, so it's a win-win, isn't it?
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Common Sage Common Sage is a trusty, reliable performer, a real workhorse in the herb patch. It's best sown indoors to give it a good head start before planting out. | No club votes yet |
| Berggarten Berggarten is another reliable sage variety, known for its good flavor and steady growth. This one does well sown directly outdoors when the weather warms up. | No club votes yet |
| Purple Sage Purple Sage offers a lovely color in the garden alongside that familiar sage flavor. Get this one started indoors to establish strong plants. | No club votes yet |
| Tricolor Tricolor Sage is a beauty with its variegated leaves, really adds something to the garden. It's one that can be sown straight outdoors. | No club votes yet |
| Golden Sage Golden Sage brings a bright splash of yellow-green to your plot, with that classic sage taste. Start these seeds indoors for the best results. | No club votes yet |
| Extrakta Extrakta is a reliable sage variety, known for its strong flavor and good yields. Sow this one directly outdoors for a fuss-free start. | No club votes yet |
| Dwarf Garden Dwarf Garden is a cracking compact variety, just perfect if you're growing in containers or have smaller spaces. Best sown indoors to get it going nicely. | No club votes yet |
| Nazareth Nazareth is a reliable, sturdy sage variety that performs well in the garden. This one can be sown outdoors when the time is right. | No club votes yet |
| Icterina Icterina offers variegated leaves with a lovely golden tint, adding visual appeal to your herb patch. Give it a good start by sowing indoors. | No club votes yet |
| Broadleaf Broadleaf Sage is a robust and reliable performer, giving you plenty of big, flavorful leaves. It's a good choice for direct outdoor sowing. | No club votes yet |
| Lavandulifolia Lavandulifolia, or Spanish Sage, is a reliable variety with a slightly different aroma, often used in culinary and medicinal ways. Sow this one indoors to nurture it. | No club votes yet |
| Artemis Artemis is a dependable sage variety, giving you consistent harvests of its aromatic leaves. This one is well-suited for direct outdoor sowing. | No club votes yet |
| Greek Sage Greek Sage is a robust and reliable variety, known for its strong, slightly peppery flavor. It’s best to get this one started indoors for a strong plant. | No club votes yet |
| Albiflora Albiflora is a reliable sage variety that offers lovely white flowers alongside its aromatic leaves. You can sow this one directly outdoors. | No club votes yet |
| Holt’s Mammoth Holt’s Mammoth is a cracking, reliable sage, known for its larger size and good yields of flavorful leaves. Give it a good start by sowing indoors. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Sage seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May | July to September |
| Zone 4 | April to May | June to September |
| Zone 5 | April to May | June to September |
| Zone 6 | March to May | May to September |
| Zone 7 | March to May | May to September |
| Zone 8 | February to May | April to September |
| Zone 9 | January to May | March to September |
| Zone 10 | December to May | March to September |
Cook the harvest
Light, pillow-soft ricotta gnocchi flecked with fresh sage and tossed in classic brown butter — a far easier alternative to potato gnocchi that comes together in under 30 minutes. The ricotta keeps the dough delicate and tender, while the sage threads through both the dumpling and the sauce for a perfectly unified dish.
30 min · mediumA quick, elegant pasta that turns just a few pantry staples into something extraordinary. Butter is cooked until golden and nutty, then a generous handful of fresh sage leaves is fried until crisp and fragrant, coating every strand of pasta in rich, herbaceous warmth. It is one of the great five-ingredient meals in the Italian-American repertoire.
20 min · easyA whole roasted chicken rubbed all over with a sage and garlic butter pushed under the skin emerges from the oven with the crispiest golden skin imaginable and incredibly juicy, flavour-soaked meat underneath. Sage is the undisputed star, infusing every bite with its woodsy, camphor warmth. This is the kind of simple, impressive dinner that anchors a family meal.
100 min · mediumCreamy goat cheese and crispy fried sage sit on a golden flatbread drizzled with honey and chili flakes for a starter that is equal parts rustic and refined. The contrast of the pungent cheese, earthy herb, sweetness, and heat is truly memorable. It comes together in under 30 minutes using store-bought flatbread or naan.
25 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: marigolds, nasturtium
Questions people ask
When do you sow Sage in the US?
Sow Sage from March to May in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out June, after the last frost.
How long does Sage take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 90 days, with the harvest May to September.
Which Sage varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Common Sage, Berggarten, Purple Sage, Tricolor and more.
Track your Sage from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.