Sage produces edible leaves year-round, but the best time for harvesting is before the plant flowers, says the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County. After flowering, sage leaves lose some of their aroma and flavor.
You can pick individual leaves as you need them, leaving the rest of the plant intact. For a larger harvest, cut back an entire stem to the base of the plant, then strip off the leaves. You can also cut back the plant by up to one-third of its height when it's actively growing in summer if it becomes overgrown or too tall. Save the leaves from pruning to use in the kitchen. You can harvest fresh thyme sprigs at any time, although before flowering results in the best flavor.
Should I cut them off? Will flowering have an effect on the flavour when used as a herb? Our sagest sorry advice on this is No! Leave the blooms on. You can use them in cooking e. Thanks for asking! They do not resemble eggs or bugs and honestly look like flecks of soil. I have been monitoring them and they can't be particles of soil.
They appear to be the cause of my sage leaves near the base of the plant turning brown at the tips and quickly dying and falling off. I have tried a dishsoap and water treatment as is they were pests as well as manual removal but they keep coming back. I cannot find anything remotely similar in literature or on the internet.
Does anyone know what is causing this and how I can remedy it? Thank you so much! This could be Southern blight you did not indicate your home area. I also have the same black flecks on my tricolor sage plant that I bought a month ago. I live near Philadelphia, PA, and bought my sage plant at a nearby farm.
They are tiny, hard specks like dirt that sit on the leaves and stems. I reviewed 'Southern Blight' and the nematode advice posted, but it is not either of those things. The 'specks' do not seem to be a bug, or even alive in any way; they are the consistency of dried coffee grounds, or black pepper from a pepper shaker, and can be easily brushed off. I brush the flecks off, and then a few days later those specks are all over the plant again, and on the kitchen counter where the plant sits.
Just like Katie said, they are like black specks of dirt. At first I thought they might be seeds, but I honestly don't know anything about sage plants, and I'm sure you are probably all laughing hysterically by now. My plant seems to be otherwise healthy. I took cuttings of my sage and rosemary and arranged them in a vase on my kitchen window sill I had mysterious black dusty flecks also.
I assumed the cuttings were dying and falling apart. But after looking closely I noticed a worm eating my plants! The flecks were what I assume were it's waste. Not sure if it's the same thing but the description of the flecks sound exactly the same Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Sage. By The Editors. How to Plant Sage Plant sage in full sun. The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant.
Set the plants 2 feet apart. You can also sow seeds up to two weeks before the last frost date. It will develop strong roots and stems, readying itself for the next year. Tips: It is recommended to remove no more than a third of the plant at one time. Leave enough to encourage new growth. Also, rather than washing sage leaves after harvest, hose down the plant in the morning on the day of harvesting. Wait until moisture and morning dew has dried, then choose stems with new growth budding along the side.
Try to pick before mid-day sun. Apparently the oils are less potent once the heat of the day sets in. Post your comments below. I have trouble trimming it back because it has become woody now. Glad to hear your sage is doing well and growing vigorously. It can be tricky to prune, but if you cut back to just above a set or two of buds, that will trigger growth further down the stem and fill in some of the woody area. The only times you need to wash it is if you visibly see dirt on the leaves. If you see lots of dirt, just rinse them off or swish them around in a bowl of water for a few seconds.
This removes all the dirt, and makes them clean to eat. Be sure they are completely dry after rinsing, or they can turn brown pretty quickly. I use my salad spinner to spin them dry, but you could also gently pat them with a towel.
Here are some questions people often ask about harvesting sage. Yes, sage will regrow after cutting it. In fact, cutting it encourages the plant to fill out even more. The more you pick and pinch it, the bushier it will become. Which means an even larger yield for you! In order to harvest sage without killing the plant, keep some leaves on it at all times.
Be very careful never to remove all of them. Also, never pull the entire thing out or cut it all the way down to the ground. Yes, you can continue to harvest sage after it flowers, however the flavor can become bitter.
If you pinch off the blooms before they get too large, the leaves will still retain much of their flavor. Many gardeners also enjoy using the young, tender blossoms in their cooking. As you can see, harvesting sage is pretty simple. Not only does it add lots of flavor to your cooking, but if you continuously gather it all summer long, the plant will keep producing more for you to use.
I live and garden in Minneapolis, MN zone 4b.
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