This sage is a tough, hardy perennial plant that is highly aromatic. It has broad grey-green leaves and blue flowers. Sage can be used fresh and dried with poultry, pork, lamb, veal, stews, sauces, dressings, tomato dishes, aubergine, soups and cheese dishes. Is also often planted in borders because of its pretty blue flowers.
Sage tea is very healthy. Especially for women. It is a very medicinal plant. Sage is native to the Mediterranean region. Pick the leaves fresh every day because it contains the most healthy substances. The word sage comes from the verb salvere meaning to save or treat. Sage has several healing properties: it is calming, it is strengthening your immune system, it is healing for your respiratory, liver and lymphatic systems. It is also a natural antibiotic for coughs and colds. It is expectorant and soothes sore throats. Sage also has sleep-inducing and calming properties. Don't drink too much sage tea. 2 cups a day is fine.
Sage tea can help women relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety, anger and other menopause symptoms. Sage tea can also help with urinary tract complaints and a variety of women's ailments such as: menstrual problems and PMS. Sage also helps against excessive sweating. Semi-hardy perennial.
Indoor sowing: April - May
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 10 - 21 days
Germinationtemp.: 18 - 20°C
Sowing depth.: ½ - 1 cm
Plant distance: 30 - 45 cm
Planting postition: sunny
Harvesting period: June - October
Sow indoors in trays filled with moist potting soil from April till May. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep the temperature as even as possible. Don't let the temperature drop during the night. Transplant the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle, to seperate pots. Put them away a bit cooler (17 - 18°C). Harden the seedlings of by putting them outdoors during the day for approx. 10 -14 days on a sunny plot from the beginning of May. Put the plants on a sunny plot with free draining soil after the hardening off period. Keep 30 - 45 cm apart.
Sow outdoors from the middle of May, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Sow in rows or groups. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Thin the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle, to 30 - 45 cm apart. Give sage a sunny, sheltered plot with soil enriched with lime and well drained soil. Sage is very easy to grow and has a good resistance against diseases and harmfull insects.
