HerbsLamiaceae

Sage.

Warm seasonDeer-resistantPollinator magnet
At a glance

The spec sheet.

Indoor start
Late winter
Direct sow / out
May
Germ
14–21 days
Days to harvest
Perennial once established
Spacing
18"
Depth
¼"
Square-foot
1 per square
Qty target
1–2 plants for Thanksgiving stuffing + year-round use.

Plant

Buy plants or start indoors. Well-drained soil, full sun. Sage is hardy in Zone 6b — a permanent addition.

Care

Water sparingly. Cut back hard in early spring. Replace every 4–5 years as plants get woody.

Harvest

Snip leaves anytime. Best flavor is on new growth before flowering.

Preserve

Dried; also fresh in herb butter and stuffing.

Companion planting

What sage likes, and doesn’t.

Good neighbors

Avoid nearby