Herb English Sage

Sage is a perennial, so you can harvest year-round, but the leaves are most aromatic in late spring and early summer.

• Sage thrives in full sun, so choose a spot with at least 6 - 8 hours of direct sunlight daily, in well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline to neutral. It tolerates poorer soils but benefits from organic matter added at planting.
• Work compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to improve fertility and drainage. Avoid waterlogged or heavy clay soils, which can lead to root rot.
• Space each plug 30cm apart in rows or clusters. Sage grows into a bushy plant, so leave room for airflow.
• Plant plugs so the root ball is level with the soil surface. Avoid burying the stem to prevent rot.
• Firm the soil gently and water thoroughly after planting.
• If growing in pots, choose a container at least 30cm wide and deep with drainage holes. Use a well-draining potting mix and plant as described above.

Caring:

• Sage is drought-tolerant once established but needs regular watering during its first few weeks to help roots settle.
• Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings to avoid overwatering.
• Sage thrives in moderately fertile soil and usually doesn’t require additional feeding.
• For container-grown plants, apply a balanced liquid fertiliser once every 4 - 6 weeks during the growing season.
• Pinch back the tips of young plants to encourage bushy growth.
• Remove any dead or woody stems in early spring to promote fresh growth.
• Avoid cutting into old, woody stems, as they may not regrow.
• Keep the area around your sage plants weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
• Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid mulching against the stem of the plant.

Harvesting:

• Begin harvesting leaves once the plant is well-established, typically 6 - 8 weeks after planting.
• Use scissors or your fingers to pinch off individual leaves or snip small stems just above a leaf node to encourage regrowth.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.