Growing Sage in Pots: The Ultimate Beginners Guide

Growing sage in pots is an easy way to grow fresh herbs on your deck, patio, porch, or balcony. In this article I will go over everything you need to know including the materials you need, the steps to pot up your sage, and the maintenance required so you can ensure you have a healthy sage plant for years to come.

Sage or Salvia Officinalis as the scientists like to call it is a popular aromatic herb. Most varieties are perennials down to zone 5 which means it will survive temperatures down to -23 C to -28 C (-10 F to -20 F) which I would say makes it a pretty hardy herb. Not only is it hardy, but it is also very attractive to people and bees. You will see the beautiful display of sage flowers in midsummer during the plant’s second year. Depending on the variety, flowers may be blue, purple, pink, white, or red.

Sage can be propagated from seed, cuttings, layering, or of course you can pick up a plant at your local garden center. The only problem is which one do you chose?

Different Types of Sage Varieties

There are many different varieties of sage you can grow. They all have very similar growing habits, but each one has a slightly unique colour, and flavour. Here is a list of five edible sage plants with some quick facts so you can chose which one you want to plant in your container.

Common Sage or Garden Sage

• Grows 12-36 inches high
• Perennial within zones 5-8
• Known for its velvety textured gray-green leaves, this is the most popular culinary sage you can grow, and is a main ingredient in stuffing
• get lavender-blue flowers
• Culinary use: stews, soups, stuffing, pork and poultry dishes

Golden Sage

• Grows 18-24 inches high
• Perennial within zones 5-8
• Variegated leaves of yellow and green with a peppery and sharp flavour
• Will get lavender-blue flowers
• Culinary use: Soups, salads, stews, pork

Purple Sage

• Grows 18-24 inches high
• Perennial within zones 5-8
• Very similar to common sage, but with a purplish hue to the its flavorful leaves
• Will get purple flowers
• Culinary use: Soups, salads, stews, pork, chicken

Pineapple Sage

• Grows 24-36 inches high
• Perennial within zones 8-11 – only survives winter down to -6 C to -12 C (10 F to 20 F)
• Elongated pointed green leaves, and as the name suggests a pineapple flavour and aroma
• Will get red flowers
• Culinary use: soup, salads, stews, pork and chicken

Tri-colour sage

• Grows 18-32 inches high
• Perennial within zones 7-8 – only survives winter down -12 C to -17 C (10 F to 0 F)
• A highly ornamental sage with variegated leaves of pink, purple, white, and green that also has a milder flavour than common sage
• Will get light blue flowers
• Culinary use: soup, salad, stews, pork and chicken recipes

Selecting the Best Containers to Grow Sage

It is often suggest to grow sage in clay pots. This is because it is one of those Mediterranean herbs that prefer to dry out slightly between watering. Since the clay pot is porous, it helps moisture escape. You will however want to consider the climate you live in. If you are in a very hot and dry climate you might be better off choosing a different type of material such as plastic which holds more moisture.

The main thing is that you will want to find a pot with good drainage. If you try growing sage in pots without good drainage you will end up with a very unhealthy plant, and it could end up dying

If your pot does not have any drainage holes you can simply add some for better drainage. For galvanized metal tubs I have had good luck taking a large nail and hammering it in the bottom. For plastic, I use a drill and drill some holes. If the bottom has any ribbing on it be sure to put your holes at the lowest points where the water might pool. An average of 4-5 drainage holes in the bottom of your container should be good enough.

With all that being said, let’s look closer at some container options…

Type of Container	Pros	Cons
Clay Pot	Made from natural clay – more environmentally friendly, can lose more moisture which helps in a wetter climate, looks nice	Heavier, more expensive, more prone to breaking
Plastic Pot	Holds more moisture which helps in a very dry climate, less breakable, cheaper, light	Less environmentally friendly, may hold too much moisture in a wet climate
Grow Bags	Will dry out much faster which helps in a wet climate but could be hard to keep enough moisture in very hot dry climates, very light and easy to handle	Can be difficult to regulate moisture levels and very prone to drying out, may not hold up over time as sage is a perennial and could be in pot for a long time
Metal Container (Galvanized Metal or Stainless Steel are best)	Will hold more moisture, looks nice, light	Mostly likely will not come with drainage holes

What size pot is best to grow sage?

The best size pot to plant one sage plant is 10-12 inches across, and 10-12 inches deep. There can be a slight taper down to the bottom, but you want to make sure there is still plenty of room for your sage to grow a big healthy root system. It is very important to ensure you are growing your sage in a pot that is the right size as this will ultimately determine the overall size and health of your plant.

You can chose a larger pot than what is recommended, but it is not a good idea to go smaller. A couple benefits of using a larger pot is that you will not need to repot as soon, and it will be easier to maintain the moisture levels. Smaller pots always dry out much faster which can lead to trouble especially in a hot dry climate.

What is the Best Soil for Growing Sage in Pots?

One of the most important factors for growing sage in pots is that you select the right soil. You will want a nice loamy soil that is also high in organic matter. This way you can provide a nice medium for the roots, and beneficial nutrients to your sage plant. It is important that your soil have good drainage and not be too heavy which would reduce oxygen at the roots. Since sage is a plant that you will be eating it is important to go with an all-natural organic soil and not use any chemical type fertilizers or soil amendments.

I have always had really good luck with “Vegetable and Herb Promix” – to be honest this is the only potting mix that I use. It is light and fluffy, it is organic, and it even contains organic fertilizer that can feed your sage for up to three months. It is designed to promote larger root growth which in turn creates a larger and healthier plant. I have used it for the last 8 years and I have never had a problem with it.

How to Plant Sage in a Pot?

1. Select a pot that is 10-12 inches across, and 10 – 12 inches deep with good drainage
2. Select a well-draining soil and add water so that it resembles a damp sponge consistency. The soil should be able to form a ball when squeezed, and only have a maximum of 1 – 2 water droplets come out. The ball should also easily crumble apart when pressure is applied.
3. Fill your container about 1 inch from the top
4. Create a hole in the center of the pot
5. Take your sage plant out of its nursery pot
6. If the roots are very root bound then lightly tickle the bottom roots to loosen them, this is also a good time to remove any sick looking lower leaves
7. Place your sage in the hole you created
8. Fill in with the rest of your pre-moistened soil and gently press down around the base of the plant
9. Only plant deep enough to match the previous soil level
10. Water in your plant so the soil settles in around the roots
11. If you live in an extra hot and dry climate – you can mulch the top of the soil with wood chips, or pea gravel to retain moisture

What fertilizer is best for Growing Sage in Pots?

Sage plants will do very well with a fertilizer of 5-1-1- NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium). The overall levels of Phosphorus and Potassium are low, but it is higher in Nitrogen which will promote more leaf growth. Sage plants do not need much fertilizer, but when growing in pots it is important to regularly fertilize. Sage should be lightly fertilized about every two weeks.

A really great option is “Alaska Fish Fertilizer” concentrate. It is certified for organic gardening, so it can be used on herbs, vegetables, and more. It is rich in organic matter that will slowly incorporate into the soil overtime releasing more nutrients. Since it is concentrated it will last quite a long time as you just mix a little with water each time. Just be warned… it really does have an odour to it.

How do you care for potted sage?

Sage prefers to grow in full sun, so make sure to place your pot in an area where it will get at least 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

It is very important to know how often to water your herbs. You will want to water your sage when the top two inches of soil feels dry. You can put your finger down two inches in the soil to check for moisture levels. Another good way to check is by lifting up the pot to see if it feels much lighter. It is best to water thoroughly, but perhaps a little less often than some of your other plants.

Each spring you will want to cut back your sage to promote new healthy growth. You should only trim the tips of the sage stems in the first year on young plants, and then in subsequent years you can cut off the top third of your mature sage plants.

It is also a good idea to do another trim after your sage plant flowers to promote more new growth – this trim can be a little less drastic than the spring cut back. You will want to remove any dead flower heads, and leaves that look sick or damaged.

Sage does not have many pests or disease issues, but it can be prone to slugs, spittle bugs, spider mites, root rot and wilt. The best way to avoid all of these is through using well-drained soil, and keeping your plant as healthy as possible with the methods mentioned previously in this article.

If you notice spider mites beginning to be a problem you can treat with a natural homemade insecticidal soap. Click here for a website with a recipe to make homemade insecticidal soap.

Growing Sage in Pots during Winter Months

During the winter months you can either take your sage indoors or leave it outside in a sheltered area.

If you leave it outside it will pretty well stay dormant with no maintenance as with most perennial herbs. There will be little to no harvest this way, but it is the easiest method as long as your winters are not too cold.

If you bring your sage indoors you may want to treat the soil with a natural insecticidal soap first just so that you do not bring any pests inside. Then you can place it in a sunny window. You can get some harvest this way but re-growth will be slower. Continue watering and fertilizing throughout the winter.

When Should I Repot my Sage?

You will want to consider repotting your sage about every 1 – 2 years, or more often as needed. One thing to look for is if you notice roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. Another way to check is if the top two inches of soil are very full of roots to a point that you can hardly dig through it. Lastly, just watch your plant and if it is starting to look a little worse for wear than it may be time to repot.

It is a very simple process to repot your sage plant. All you need to do is choose a container that is slightly larger and then follow the exact same steps as when you initially potted it up out of its nursery pot. Fill the new container with fresh pre-moistened soil, break up any root bound roots, plant by matching the current soil level, and then give it a good water.

Well that is all I got on growing sage in pots. I hope this was helpful to you, and don’t forget to save this article so you can refer back to it later or share with a friend.