SHRUBS > SALVIA > harvest
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SALVIA GUIDES
Common ProblemsContainer GrowingCuttings PropagationDeadheadingDivisionHarvestingOverwinteringPlantingPruningVarieties – Hot Lips – Common Sage – Pink Varieties – Woodland Sage
Prized for its culinary and redolent attribute , sage ( botanically known as Salvia ) is a popular herbaceous plant from the same family unit as mint and marjoram .
As well as flavouring centre and fowl , it can be a great improver to larder sauces and squash dishes.1Sage . ( 2022 , June 10 ) . BBC Good Food . call up March 24 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/sage-glossary
It ’s accustomed to Mediterranean climates but will flourish just as well on a gay windowsill , so it makes sense to have a plentiful supply on hired hand in any kitchen .
Easy to spring up , it ’s also incredibly simple to harvest , but you ’ll still want to be a few basic step .
We ’ve laid these out for you below :
If any of those stage sound confusing to you , we ’ll cover each one in more detail below – and will discover exactlywhenis the best time to harvest your salvia plant …
When To Harvest Sage
salvia is a hardy perennial which give rise leaves all twelvemonth round .
However , it is advisable to only reap leave-taking in the springiness and summer , before it blossom forth .
After flowers look , the foliage can misplace its perfume somewhat and , what ’s more , harvest later on in the year can spell trouble for the retentive - full term well - being of your plant .
1) Don’t Harvest In Year One
If growing a sage plant from seeded player , you could have a bun in the oven to see the first mature leaves appear on the shank within around two and a one-half calendar month of sowing .
However , it ’s advisable to will the plant alone for the first year to appropriate it time to amply establish itself .
If you ca n’t support off that long , it ’s entirely possible to harvest some foliage in its first spring and summertime .
Just be sure to do so lightly , or you may compromise its long - term wellness .
2) Prune Regularly
As with many other plants , sage will do good from veritable pruning .
That ’s because it has a tendency to become too woody , diverting too much attention to the development of its stem and flowers and not enough to the leaves for which it ’s famed .
“ My sage plants incline not to become too woody because it ’s a herbaceous plant I harvest quite regularly in summertime , ” shares Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly .
“ Even so , I be given to replant every 3 - 5 age from cuttings , which take quite easy .
“ This ensures that the plant does not lose vigour . I find that this pass off in my garden with sage because the soil is quite prolific and moist ( not very Mediterranean ) . ”
If permit to become woody , you may find oneself that the plant will ask to be replaced after a few year .
The best way to avoid this outcome is to prune back longer halt , specially after flowering , to keep them in embodiment and divert their energy back towards the foliage .
3) Harvest For Immediate Use
If you ’re plan to use fresh sage leaves in your cooking immediately , you’re able to simply pluck them from the shank with your fingers .
It ’s potential to select either ripe or babe foliage ; the latter is often more popular because it ’s said to have a strong aroma and flavour .
The good clip to harvest your sage leaves is on a clear day when humidity point are low .
expect for the dew to have dry out off the leaf entirely , as this will ensure that the oils contained within them are at an optimum floor .
4) Harvest For Storage
If , on the other hand , you intend to harvest your salvia and store it for later function , you could use your pruning scissors grip to cut intact stems around 15 - 20 curium in distance .
wad them together and secure them with twine or an pliable band , then give ear them upside down to dry .
Once dry , the bundle should be stored in an airtight jar or another container .
It ’s also possible to put in sage in the electric refrigerator or deep freezer .
you’re able to do this with both private leaves or entire stems , though all foliage should be site in a ziplock plastic bag wherever you plan to store it .
electric refrigerator specimen will remain fresh for a few days , while deep freezer single are safe for calendar month .
5) Allow Recuperation Time
Sage will withstand quite vigorous harvest home , but you should always be certain to leave a few stalks with plentiful leaves intact .
This will leave the industrial plant to continue to photosynthesise and ensures it can take a hop back secure than before .
It ’s also a good idea to give your sage plant life time to go back during the fall and wintertime months .
Since it produces parting all year round , you may theoretically harvest them whenever you desire .
However , it ’s a better strategy to harvest in advance and stack away the leaves as outlined above to give the plant its longest life potential .
