Sage vegetable planting and care in the open field

Sage in the country: two ways of planting and care

The Mediterranean has brought us a very beautiful and healing sage plant. There is nothing difficult in growing it, while its decorativeness will delight the eye all summer. Sage leaves are anti-inflammatory and bactericidal, so you will always have a natural bactericidal patch at your fingertips.

Types of sage planting

For the miraculous grass, choose an area for planting in an open area, light partial shade is allowed. The soil is loamy nutritious, the acidity level is pH 6.5-7.0, neutral. Sand is added to the clay soil. Sage prefers warmth and moisture.

Sage seeds you can buy it in the store, sow it directly in the open ground or grow it through seedlings. An adult sage bush can be transplanted.

Sage is planted in the spring, but the preparation of the beds is in the fall, or before winter. The best precursors are potatoes, onions, cabbage, or legumes. In the fall, the site is dug up, covering up humus or compost, with the addition of potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. In the spring (March-April), the soil is loosened, nitrogen fertilizer is added. If you forgot about planting sage, then in May you can still fix everything, but then no shelter is required. Seeds are soaked for a day in a growth stimulator "Epin", dry, put in grooves to a depth of 1-2 cm, keeping the distance between seeds 20-30 cm. Row spacing - 40-50 cm. The crops are covered with foil and the shelter is removed in stable warm weather, when the threat of frost has passed.

If sage is planted before winter, then in early October-mid-November, depending on the region, the seeds are laid in the soil to a depth of 4-5 cm, maintaining a distance of 20 cm, and between rows - 50 cm.It is very important to ensure that the seeds do not germinate , otherwise cold and frost will lead the seedlings to death. In the spring, after the emergence of seedlings, thinning and possible transplantation are carried out.

Seedling method of growing sage allows you to accelerate flowering, since planting in open ground does not take place with seeds, but with ready-made seedlings in late April-early May. For this, the seeds are germinated and the hatched seeds are transplanted into a light substrate. After 10-14 days, shoots will begin to appear, after another 7-10 days, a pick is carried out, preferably in peat pots. Sage seeds can be immediately planted in peat tablets, which will save you time and make your transplant easier. They are transplanted into open ground in stable warm weather. The distance between the bushes is 70-90 cm, since the growth is more in width than in height.

The easiest way to breed sage is to dig the lowest twig to the ground. After a while, the roots will appear and after complete rooting (1.5-2 months), the young plant is carefully cut off from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.

Sage is a cross-pollinated plant and when grown in several varieties, they need to be planted in different locations to maintain varietal characteristics.

Sage care

The plant is so unpretentious that it can withstand both drought and poor soil, but under such conditions decorativeness and the level of medicinal properties are reduced. This can be avoided by adhering to the basic rules of sage care.

In order for the leaves to gain healing properties, and the flowers "burn" in the sun with their purple color, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for this.Regular watering and loosening from the formation of a hard crust, weeding from weeds are mandatory work in caring for sage. Without watering, the leaves become tough, and its excess will attract snails, spider mites, thrips and slugs. Thinning of young shoots will allow the bushes to develop well, there will be enough light and air. Scatter small pebbles under the sage to help retain moisture and protect against weed growth. Organic mulching will retain moisture more and longer, but we don't need it. If pests appear, they are sprayed with an infusion of onion peels.

For the winter, sage is covered with leaves, straw, or branches. The first few years, pruning of shoots is carried out in the fall to strengthen the root system, then the procedure is transferred to the spring. Pruning is sanitary and rejuvenating, leaving only 10 cm of shoot length from the soil surface.

After 4-5 years, the sage bushes must be replaced and another area for planting should be allocated. Subject to annual rejuvenation, the replacement period is extended to 10 years.

In harsh winters, sage may not survive wintering, then the plant will have to be grown as an annual.

When to harvest sage

Sage leaves are used dried and fresh, and are used for various purposes, as a spice for salads and side dishes, for preparing infusions and decoctions. You can collect leaves all summer, during the flowering period. Spread out in a thin layer at a temperature not higher than + 35 ° С, in the shade. Dried sage can be stored for up to a year, without losing its medicinal properties, fresh leaves - only 7 days at a temperature of 1-3 ° C. Store dried leaves in a tight paper bag. Separate the buds and stems from the leaves.

Of the most popular sage widows, we single out: from the medicinal "Nectar", "Aibolit", "Breeze"; from the meadow species "Sticky", "Forest". Interesting for their aroma and appearance: Greek, purple, tricolor, golden. All of them are registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation.

Sage, aka salvia, is another excellent representative of ornamental and medicinal plants. It belongs to the glorious genus of lamines, which gave rise to many beautiful and useful flowers. I love its beautiful, narrow foliage and blue flowers. After articles by one author about sage, I wanted to learn as much as possible about such a familiar and beautiful plant. It turned out that the shapes and colors of sage are different: from the usual to the most outlandish and extraordinary. There are 700 different sage species in the world.

Sage is a perennial, but there are both annual and biennial species. Sage inflorescences are collected in panicles or spikelets. Stems are erect, can branch and reach a length of 120 cm.

Sage is an excellent helper in cooking and medicine. In ancient Rome, it was used in the treatment of many diseases, today it is just as relevant.

Planting sage

Most species of salvia officinalis like soils of normal acidity (5.5-6.5 pH). Plant sage in a well-lit area. It will grow better on light, fertile soils. Loamy soils are well suited for this.

To enrich the soil before planting sage, humus or compost, as well as phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, are introduced in the fall for digging. At the onset of spring, the soil is leveled and broken with a rake, after which nitrogen fertilizers are also introduced.

Sage has been growing in its place for over 8 years. This culture grows well, so the seedling method can not be used, but sow seeds directly into the ground in early spring (March - early April, using film) or in the fall under the snow. It does not matter if you are delayed with planting, you can sow in May, then a film shelter for seedlings is not needed. In this case, stratification and any other measures for germinating seeds are not required. You can arrange a ridge for sage, make a groove and seal the seeds to a depth of no more than 2 cm.Sage grows as a bush, so it is better to leave about 30 cm between the plants, and take about 50 cm between the rows.

It is not worth sowing sage after relatives from the lamb family. The precursors of sage can be potatoes, cabbage, onions, legumes.

Sage care

Pruning. In the second year after planting, like many spicy herbs with dense inflorescences, sage is renewed by cutting (10 cm from the soil surface).

Watering. Sage tolerates drought well, but it needs moisture to keep the greens juicy and tender. Otherwise, the leaves will simply become very tough. But it is not worth pouring, he does not like this.

Fertilization. In the spring before flowering, fertilizing with nitrogen mineral fertilizers is carried out, in the fall, after the plant is cut off and prepares for winter, many gardeners carry out fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in accordance with the norms on the package.

Sage harvest

It is customary to use and harvest sage during its flowering period. Leaves can be eaten fresh, or they can be harvested for the winter, in bunches or spread out in a dark, warm, ventilated place (in the attic).

Sage species

After the studies carried out by the Novosibirsk Research Station, 12 species resistant to steppe conditions were selected. But they turned out to be so different in their characteristics that they were divided into three groups:

1. Plants of American origin were identified in this group, their habitual environment is subtropics. In their natural environment, such plants live for several years. In the middle lane in winter, the plant dies, therefore it is cultivated as an annual. At least 100 days will pass from germination to flowering. Therefore, the sage of this group is grown mainly by seedlings.

2. This group already includes varieties of Mediterranean sage. In their natural environment, they are perennial, but in our middle lane in the open field they will die in winter, so they have to be grown as annual plants. But it will take about 40 days from germination to flowering. This suggests that you can do without seedlings.

3. The most popular group in our country. This group includes sage varieties that winter well in our open field. They are perennials in the temperate zone. This group also includes the Ethiopian sage, which is cultivated as a biennial. The most unaffected studies are Muscat, Marsh and Lavender Salvia.

I would also like to share with the reader photographs of different types of sage.

Salvia sticky

Salvia viridis

Salvia microphylla

Salvia dolomitica 

Sage varieties

Since this article mostly dealt with medicinal sage (vegetable), we will consider varieties that are suitable for different climatic zones and have excellent taste and irreplaceable medicinal properties.

Sage Breeze This variety is included in the State Register of the Russian Federation, it is recommended for consumption fresh and dried (young shoots and foliage), it is used for the preparation of desserts, salads, soups, sauces, meat, fish. Plants of this variety reach about 60 cm in height, with erect shoots and dense foliage. The leaves are pubescent, toothed at the edges. In the second year after planting, the bush of the variety reaches about 280 g. Flowers are violet-blue in color. Seeds are small, brown-black in color.

Sage Aibolit Like the previous variety, it is included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. It is consumed both fresh and dry. The plant is larger than the previous one, 60-120 cm tall. The leaf is dark green, finely toothed along the edge, wrinkled, has strong pubescence. It is customary to use the variety in the second year after planting, after a month from the beginning of the growing season. But it is not as persistent in winter as the previous variety, so in the middle lane it is better to cover it for the winter.

Sage Nectar The variety, included in the State Register of the Russian Federation, is very popular when combined with cheese and in aromatic culinary compositions. Its height is about 100 cm, the stem is erect. Foliage color is light green with pubescence. The flowers are blue-violet.

Sage Patriarch Semko The variety is used dry and fresh; it has been included in the State Register since 2000. The height of this variety is 50-80 cm. Erect, stiff stems at the bottom. Dense foliage up to 10 cm long. At the top of the shoot, the leaves are smaller. The seeds are in the form of a ball, the flowers are blue-violet.

I also recommend another author's excellent article on this wonderful plant.

A variety of perennial sage varieties are used in landscaping to create amazing compositions. Planting, caring for and propagating these plants is straightforward. However, there are some peculiarities of growing them outdoors.

Varieties and varieties

The Latin name of the plant "Salvia" in the Russian interpretation means "to be healthy." Photo culture is often the hallmark of pharmaceuticals. It is a perennial herb, a shrub. Stems are tetrahedral, erect, reaching a height of 1.2 m. Shoots are densely covered with wedge-shaped leaves 4 to 8 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide. The shape of the inflorescence is a spikelet or panicle. Small bright flowers bloom in mid-July and bloom until late autumn.

Sage is not only a beautiful but also a very useful plant.

The most common types are:

Salvia officinalis (S.officinalis) is a plant reaching a height of 20-70 cm. The leaves are elongated, narrow (0.8-1.5 cm), densely pubescent, gray-green in color, the stem is covered with whitish villi. It is widely used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. Varieties:

• Breeze is a semi-shrub up to 60 cm high with jagged leaves and blue-blue flowers;
• Aibolit is a tall plant (up to 120 cm), distinguished by wrinkled dark green foliage with a strong edge;

Salvia officinalis

• Nectar is a medium-sized bush, reaching 1 m in height. Leaves are light green, strongly pubescent. Spike inflorescences are strewn with purple or blue flowers;
• Semko Patriarshy is a low plant (50-70 cm) with long (up to 10 cm) leaves that densely cover the stalk stiff from below.

Forest sage (oak, wild - S. nemorosa) is a spice plant found on the edges of forests and on hillsides in the Mediterranean countries. The stem is herbaceous, the leaves are narrow, lanceolate. The flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences of the violet or blue spectrum. Varieties:

• undersized - Plumosa, Blue and Pink Queen, Marcus - reach a height of 25 to 50 cm, bloom with pink, purple, blue and purple flowers;

Forest sage

• tall - Adrian, Caradonna, Mainacht, Ametist - peduncles reach a height of up to 90 cm, dense spike-shaped inflorescences convey a wide range of colors - from white-pink delicate shades to deep violet-blue.

Meadow sage (S.pratensis) and Clary sage (S.glutinosa) is a species of oak sage. Sh. Sticky deserves attention because of the unusual greenish-yellow color of the leaves. Interesting photos, where lush paniculate inflorescences of a pale yellow color create a delicate background for brighter flowers.

Meadow sage

Planting a plant

Different types of sage are ambiguous about equal conditions. Oak and meadow prefer sunny areas and moderate watering. These are drought-resistant plants for which waterlogging is dangerous. Clary sage naturally lives on the edges of the forest, so light shade and moist soil are of the highest priority for it.

Despite the differences, there are general requirements:

• salvias grow more readily on light sandy loam soils;
• prefer humus-rich soil of normal acidity (pH = 6.5);
• require shelter for the winter;
• need spring pruning.

Sage is very thermophilic, so it needs to be covered well for the winter.

Since sage is a thermophilic plant, some perennial species are grown as one or two years in regions with harsh winters.

Important! Sage is a cross-pollinated plant, therefore, to preserve species characteristics, different varieties are planted at some distance.

Plant care

The plant is quite unpretentious - care consists in removing weeds and loosening the soil. For the winter, even the most frost-resistant species are covered with fallen leaves. In early spring, old shoots are cut, leaving about 10 cm from the root, the rosette is mulched with cut grass or peat. Watered very carefully, avoiding stagnant water.Often in the photo you can see such a landscape design technique as gravel mulching. This method is also acceptable for sage.

Mulch the soil, this will help the crop retain the necessary moisture

Fertilization and feeding

The correct development of sage is ensured by timely feeding:

• at the beginning of shoot formation, the plant perfectly accepts nitrogen fertilizers (for example, slurry in a ratio of 1: 10);
• during the period of bud formation - complex mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus (at the rate of 15-20 g per m2).

To feed sage you need mineral fertilizers

Fertilize the soil before planting a plant by introducing organic fertilizers (0.5-1 kg) in the wells in combination with mineral fertilizers (3-5 g).

Important! When planting sage, only rotted manure is used.

Reproduction of sage

Propagated in three ways:

• vegetatively - lignified cuttings;
• seeds and seedlings;
• dividing the bush or layering.

To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown in prepared containers in February-March. The first shoots appear in 1.5-2 weeks, and in the third week after planting, the seedlings dive into peat pots. In warm areas, already in April, seeds can be planted directly into open ground or used for winter planting. For spring sowing, the seeds are pre-soaked in a growth stimulator; in the fall, only dry seeds are embedded in the soil. The distance between the grooves is 15-20 cm, the depth is 4 cm.

The easiest way to propagate sage is by cuttings.

Cuttings are carried out at any time. For this, semi-lignified shoots are cut into 15 cm long pieces and rooted in a vessel with water. New roots appear within 2 weeks.

The pivotal root system of sage has the ability to form well-developed adventitious processes, so in late summer or early autumn, the bush can be planted painlessly.

Diseases and pests of sage

Since sage belongs to the group of herbal medicinal plants, in itself it is an excellent insecticide, resistant to diseases and pests. With over-watering, there is a danger of mildew (mold) damage, so the soil around the plant should be slightly damp, but not waterlogged. Spraying with sulfur solution is a good remedy for mold. Pests rarely disturb the plant, but with thickened plantings, slugs, spider mites and thrips may appear.

Of the pests, sage is most often overcome by slugs.

Diseased plants are treated with tinctures of garlic, onion peels in combination with a solution of laundry soap.

Traditional methods of pest control

1. Finely chop two heads of garlic, pour in a liter of water and leave for 5-7 days in a dark place. Dilute in a 1: 1 ratio with water, add 3-5 g of laundry soap, and spray the plants.
2. For 100 g of onion husks steamed in 5 liters of water, take 10 g of soap, spray immediately after cooling.

Shrub sage: combination with other plants

Light airy spikelets of sage go well with large heads of noble flowers. The wide blue-violet palette creates a gorgeous backdrop for warm shades of reds, yellows and oranges.

Sage in a common flower bed

Examples:

• the combination of sage with chrysanthemums, roses, lilies is used in the design of classic gardens;
• bulbous - irises, daylilies, tulips, hyacinths in the company with sage will add charm to the alpine hills;
• for landscape design in a rustic style, varieties of oak sage in combination with cereals and herbs are irreplaceable.

Shrub sage in landscape design

One- or two-year-old hybrid varieties of sage, such as brilliant salvia or clary sage, are most often used in garden design. Nevertheless, perennials are often used to create mixborders, flower beds, flower beds.

A common use of perennial sage is to create a spice garden or aroma garden. A classic example of Salvia's neighbors on such an island:

• peppermint and apple mint;
• creeping thyme (thyme) and lemon;
• oregano and hyssop;

Sage in landscape design

• basil and rosemary;
• parsley and cucumber herb;
• chives and leeks.

Practical use of sage has earned him the fame of a garden healer. Essential oils and a varied composition of trace elements help in the treatment of lung diseases. In aromatherapy, sage is considered one of the most powerful sedatives. The plant is widely used in cooking as a spice. Growing perennial species in the garden guarantees health and good mood.

Sage cultivation and its benefits: video

Blooming sage: photo

Sage is not only an aromatic herb: it will make any tea magical. It is also an herb with anti-inflammatory, astringent and antimicrobial properties. It saves from colds in the early stages, improves the production of gastric juice and strengthens the nervous system.

That is why, among the useful root crops in your summer cottages, you need to find a place for this grass. It is quite possible to grow it outdoors, so let's give it a try.

About the plant

Sage is a perennial plant, but there are both annual and biennial versions. Usually, its inflorescences are collected in spikelets or panicles. An erect stem can reach a height of twenty meters, it can branch.

In its place, it can grow up to 8 years in a row. You can not sow it after plants from the lamb family. It is best sowed after onions, legumes, cabbage, or potatoes. In total, about seven hundred of its species are known in the world.

Medicinal varieties include:

• Aibolit;
• Breeze;
• Salvia is sticky;
• Nectar, etc.

Preparing the right soil

Sage needs soil with normal acidity, that is, 5.5-6.5, in addition, it should be light and better than loamy. Remember to add compost or humus in the fall before digging. Digging up diligently.

You can also feed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the soil is clayey, add some sand to it.

In addition, it is better to choose places where there is a lot of light. Sage also loves moisture. In our latitudes, it is best to grow, for example, Ethiopian sage. Mediterranean sage varieties can also be grown, but only as annuals.

Growing sage from seeds

We buy sage seeds in the store. There is no need to germinate or stratify before planting sage. But you can plant sage at any time.

The only thing that needs to be done is to soak the sage seeds in a growth stimulator for about a day. Elin is best suited for these purposes. Be sure to dry it afterwards.

Next, we make grooves. Sage seeds are placed to a depth of a couple of centimeters. The distance between them should be about twenty to thirty centimeters. Between the rows - about half a meter.

Do not forget to cover the ridge with a film on top. Remove it only when the weather is warm and the chance of frost is minimal.

In addition, they can be sown before winter, we do this in October or early November. Place the sage seeds in the soil to a depth of 5 centimeters. The distance between the seeds and the rows is kept the same. Make sure that the seeds do not inadvertently germinate, otherwise they will die. When spring comes and shoots appear, we thin out and, if necessary, transplant.

Growing sage seedlings

With this type of planting, flowering will come faster. We land in May or mid-April. The seeds themselves need to be germinated, and then transplanted into a light substrate. In a couple of weeks, when sage shoots appear, you need to pick. Best in peat pots.

In addition, seeds can be immediately planted in peat tablets. This will make it easier for you with further work during the transplant. When the weather is stable and warm, you can transplant it into the open ground. The main thing is to observe a distance of 90 centimeters between the bushes, because in this case the sage grows in width.

Breeding sage is also not particularly difficult.We just drop the lowest of its branches to the ground, and when the roots appear here, and this is after one and a half or two months, we cut off a new plant from the mother bushes.

You can freely transplant it. Since sage is a cross-pollinated plant, to maintain varietal characteristics, representatives of different varieties should be planted in different parts of the garden.

Care rules

Sage is an unpretentious herb. It will heroically endure both drought and rainy summer. But minimal care will make it more fragrant and lush, and the flowers brighter.

Pruning and maintaining the soil

Pruning is carried out in the second year after the plant is planted. We update it by cutting it off and leaving about ten centimeters above the ground. Also, the soil must be loosened constantly and weeded from weeds. Do not forget to thin out young shoots.

You can also scatter smaller pebbles under the plants: it will retain moisture and protect from weeds. Well, of course, the earth should be mulched with organic matter. It is better to prune the first years of life in the fall: this will strengthen their root system. Then prune the sage in the spring

Watering

It is also needed, even though sage treats drought normally. Do it regularly so that the sage leaves don't get too tough. But if you overdo it with moisture, there is a risk that pests will appear. Sage is characterized by slugs, spider mites and thrips.

If such "guests" appear, treat the sage with a decoction of onion husks.

Top dressing

This plant needs such types of fertilizers as nitrogen mineral fertilizers. We bring them in in the spring, before it begins to bloom. But closer to winter, after cutting the sage, you can add phosphorus-potassium.

Preparing for winter

Before sleeping in the winter, you need to cover the bushes with straw, leaves or branches.

After five years have passed, the bushes need to be replaced. Then we select another site for landing. If sage is rejuvenated every year, it can live in one place for ten years in a row.

Collection features

You can collect it all the period when it blooms, that is, the whole summer. To prepare for winter, the bushes should be tied in bunches. You can also spread it out in a thin layer and dry. The temperature in this case should be from 35 degrees above zero.