|
The sage herb comes in two main forms: broad leaf and narrow leaf. The primary distinction is that the broad leaf type doesn't flower or set seed. That means you must buy small plants and transplant them to your garden unless you have access to someone else's plant and know how to do layering or start from cuttings. Buying a small sage plant and transplanting it is a lot easier if you're a new gardener.
However, the broad leaf, non-flowering sage herb is not always available. If you can't find it, you can readily find seed packets for the narrow leaf variety of the herb sage and these are easily started early in the spring. Then you can transplant your own little sage herbs to your garden or container when the soil is ready. Germination will take about two weeks and they transplant well.
Both types of sage herbs are hardy perennials that prefer sandy, well-drained soil and lots of sun. There is no difference in their flavor and both are used exactly the same way in the kitchen. Bear in mind that the flowering plant we know as "salvia", although a member of the same family as the herb sage, is not the edible herb. It's an annual grown for its showy flowers.
That's not to say sage can't be decorative in your garden.
Sage herbs are frequently grown for their good looks. It has soft, fragrant foliage that comes in a range of colors from gray-green to dusky purple and lends itself well to "texturizing" a mixed border.
To harvest your sage herb, you can begin clipping leaves as soon as the plant is large enough to spare a few. Just remember to take the leaves from different spots on the plant so it doesn't get lopsided. Sage leaves are very easy to dry for winter use. Store your sage herb leaves in an airtight container.
The traditional and familiar form of sage herb, the one found on the shelf in your grocery store, is the broad leaf variety. There is a pretty dusky purple variety called "Purpurea", a variety called "Tricolor" which has green, cream and pink/purple leaves, and another called "White Sage" which has a soft dusty gray-green foliage. These pretty sage herbs will do double duty for you, both in the kitchen and in the garden.
|