Sage plants

[borage]

I am growing sage for the first time and would like to know if I should leave it to flower or remove the flower buds.

[rustylady]

You use the leaves, so to produce more of them remove the flower buds. If you let the plants flower they will concentrate on producing seeds instead of usable leaves.

[borage]

Thanks Rusty lady I will remove them first thing tomorrow

[Snadger]

If you have more than one plant I would let one of them flower as they really are a joy to behold! You may be able to gather some seed from it for the future as they are a fairly short lived perennial!
If you only have one plant though, deffo do as Rusty lady says!

[borage]

Thanks Snadger I have 3 plants so I think I will let the smaller of them flower and then I will still have 2 large plants to use.

[Flummery]

I've got some venerable sage bushes - planted them when we moved here 7 years ago from cuttings from the old garden. They've never flowered. Now I think I'm missing something! Maybe I eat too much of them and nip the shoots out before they get the chance.

[borage]

These are seeds sown middle of March and grown on the window sill until end of April when they were planted outside. Looked a bit sorry for themselves before we went away but a week later we came home to the start of flowers and plants that had doubled in size.

[Mr Gummidge]

If you have more than one plant I would let one of them flower as they really are a joy to behold! You may be able to gather some seed from it for the future as they are a fairly short lived perennial!
If you only have one plant though, deffo do as Rusty lady says!

I let mine flower they attract bees and butterflies in abundance. My sage bush is 15 years old (short-lived!?) and has more than enough leaves on it to keep us happy if we dry them and keep in airtight jars!!

[Snadger]

I let mine flower they attract bees and butterflies in abundance. My sage bush is 15 years old (short-lived!?) and has more than enough leaves on it to keep us happy if we dry them and keep in airtight jars!!

I should have started a poll for the longest living sage bush........any advance on 15 years?

[Earthbabe]

I'd be interested to know if the ones I planted at the tender age of 11 are still going. Although that would only be 10 years wouldn't it (LOL!) Our current ones are about 5-6 yrs old and still going strong although they get a good and regular haircut, same as the lavender. I do occasionally threaten to replace but have had little need. The ones I've grown from saved seed have been put in on the lottie.

[moggssue]

I had a huge purple sage in my previous house - dont know how long it was there before me but I had it for 8 years, then it went very woody so I tried to prune it and killed it! hey ho,you live and learn! I used to let it flower too, there were so many leaves it didnt make any difference and the bees/butterflies loved it. Next year it will be the second thing going into my new perennial herb bed (the first being rosemary!).

[Flummery]

My 7 year old ones get woody so I give them a regular haircut when they try to take over the patio. I've found I can cut into quite old wood and they still re-grow. Never had a flower though.

[momol]

My 7 year old ones get woody so I give them a regular haircut when they try to take over the patio. I've found I can cut into quite old wood and they still re-grow. Never had a flower though.

Hi Flummery,

You can try to root your sage from it's woody stalks, I done it before, it works. My friend has a sage plant aged more than 20 years. It has been there since she moved in 20 years ago ... they are long live herbs like rosemary. but young ones are more compact with leaves.

Momol