Salvia officinalis COMMON SAGE (15 seeds)

Common Sage or Culinary Sage is a fast-growing perennial subshrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It reaches 60 cm in height and width and is native to Serbia and Greece. Medicinal sage is often grown in gardens as a culinary and medicinal plant, or simply for the beauty of its foliage and flowering.

Its flowers are gathered in spikes, measuring 2 to 3 cm in length, and develop above the foliage. They are purple and open in the spring, attracting many insects.

Culinary sage seeds from Salvia officinalis are black, smooth, rounded in shape, and measure 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter.

Its evergreen, highly aromatic foliage is thick, downy, and bluish in color. The oval leaves are opposite and arranged along the gray-colored stem.

- Uses:

This variety is also known as "European Tea." Its Latin name "Salvia" is already a testament to its medical effectiveness, as it comes from the Latin salvare, which means to save or to heal. The Romans harvested its leaves with a special ceremony, without the use of iron tools. It is aromatic, culinary, and decorative.
Do not consume without medical advice from a healthcare professional.

In the kitchen, its leaves are used as a flavoring agent, particularly in marinades and for seasoning game. In medicine, this beautiful medicinal plant offers many benefits to the body. This variety also possesses various therapeutic levels to treat numerous ailments.

- Germination and Sowing of Seeds:

• The best period to sow common sage is starting in April.
• Soak the seeds for 12 hours in lukewarm water before cultivation to break dormancy and accelerate germination.
• Sow them in a tray of fine potting soil mixed with a little sand.
• Cover them with 3 millimeters of soil.
• Water gently with a hand sprayer.
• Place the culture in a warm and slightly humid location at a temperature of at least 25°C.
• Germination will generally begin 3 to 6 weeks after planting.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

It grows very well in all types of stony, light, permeable soil, whether fertile or not. It does, however, have a preference for a slightly calcareous (alkaline), aerated, and well-drained substrate.

- Watering / Irrigation:

This bluish sage variety does not require much watering. Watering once or twice a week in the summer is sufficient, and once a week in winter. For pot cultivation, water at the base of the plant when the soil is dry. Never leave too much water in the saucer, as its roots rot quickly.

- Light / Exposure:

It requires a lot of light; it should be placed in full sun to benefit from beautiful flowering and abundant leaf production. Regarding artificial grow lights, use MH (Metal Halide) bulbs or horticultural LED panels.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

Due to its Balkan origins, this plant grows in a warm and dry environment; it thrives in temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. In winter, it is best to mulch the plant during the first two years of planting. It is a hardy but cold-sensitive plant that will not survive extreme negative temperatures (down to -15°C). Its USDA hardiness zone is 7.

- Multiplication / Reproduction:

There are many ways to multiply it: either by dividing the clump in spring to rejuvenate the plant, by taking stem cuttings under cover (cloche/humidity) during the summer, or simply by sowing seeds in the spring.

- Pests and Diseases:

Despite its very resistant nature, medicinal sage is sometimes attacked by fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, which is easily treated with Bordeaux mixture. Regarding pests, leafhoppers found under the leaves can hinder the proper development of the plant.

- Maintenance:

It is important to pick up dead leaves at the base of the plant to limit moisture at its foot. Dead branches should also be pruned regularly from the center of the plant.