Aromatic, and flavorful, the edible sage tops the culinary list of popular and easy to grow herbs. It is a natural for cooking because of its ability to add flavor to soups, stews, salads, and vegetables. Although it is a perennial, it can be quite a challenge to keep it growing and harvesting enough to fill your garden year round. Fortunately, there are some very easy steps you can take in order to ensure that you will be able to harvest as much as you need and enjoy your herb plants for years to come.
The first step in planting herbs in your garden is determining what season they should be planted. Depending on where you live, different herbs will bloom at different times. If you live in a place with spring through fall climates, you should plant your garden right after the last frost. The leaves should begin to appear on the ground around mid May. However, if you live in a tropical area, the plants may bloom as early as the first week of August.
After deciding when to plant your garden, you will need to determine which varieties of edible sage you are going to grow. There are approximately 25 different varieties and depending on where you live, you might only ever need a handful of each variety. For example, mint is one of the most popular and common varieties but is only needed in small amounts. On the other hand, tarragon and chervil are much more difficult to grow and should not be over harvested.
When you have picked out the herbs for your edible garden, the next step is to decide what herb you are going to use to flavor your meals. While there is no right or wrong way to choose, try to match the flavor of the herb to the foods you are going to prepare. A favorite is garlic, which pairs beautifully with a wide range of meats including sausage, fish, and poultry. Other popular choices include parsley, which is used in many casseroles and sauces. Thyme is an all time favorite but is also used to add flavor to many baked items.
After you have decided on the herbs for your edible foliage, it is now time to decide on how to prepare them. The majority of culinary herbs have a natural flavor when they are fully mature. This means you can harvest them as they are in their prime and harvest them again as they start to wilt. This allows you to have fresh foliage every time you want to use them. However, if you are looking for a more permanent fixture in your home’s culinary herb garden, you can cover the tops of the flowering buds with a plastic covering to keep the foliage from drying out.
Like many other culinary herbs, edible sage actually has medicinal benefits. In fact, it has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb and is still being used today. Its most notable trait is that it is a powerful antiseptic. Salvia, the herb synonymous with sage, is also very effective against bacteria and viruses. Both of these herbs are commonly found growing in Mediterranean areas or the southwestern part of the United States, in wooded areas, mountains or desert regions.
When you grow your own herb garden using edible varieties of sage, you can include it in your recipes because it adds an extra layer of flavor to them. Applesauce, stews, soups, chili, salads, vegetables and even ice cream can be created using sage flavors. There are two main types of edible sage you can grow. They are either the Mexican or Greek kind and they come in numerous varieties and colors. You should be able to find both types of sage at local nurseries in your area or you can order them online.
When you are ready to plant your first culinary herb plant, it will require a lot of care. You must be able to take good care of it and make sure it has enough sunlight, water, and space to grow properly. The best time of year to plant them is during the spring season, which is usually from early spring to late summer. Do not forget to place your perennial herbs in a protected location so they don’t get to dry out and die. It is very important to pick the best perennial herb you can afford, as each has their own unique taste.