Medicinal sageis a herbal plant known for a long time with valuable healing properties. Its culinary qualities and the wonderful aroma it gives to dishes are also appreciated. Gardeners, on the other hand, are useful for deterring pests and as a good neighbor for some vegetables. That is why it is worth having sage in your garden. See what thecultivation of sage looks likeand how to use it in the kitchen, medicine and protection of plants against pests.
Medicinal sage - Salvia officinalis
Medicinal sage(Salvia officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family of plants.Its name comes from the Latin word salvare, which is translated as save, save or heal. Already in ancient times,healing properties of sage were valued . In the Middle Ages, it was the basic herb in monastic herbarias. Its natural place of occurrence is the Mediterranean region. Currently, however,medical sage is grownin many countries around the world. It is a plant that grows up to about 70 cm in height. It is a semi-shrub and its stems may be woody from below. The leaves are gray-green, purple flowers begin to appear in May. The whole plant is slightly hairy.
Growing medical sage
Growing site, soil
If you want to grow herbal sage, you should know that it is a typical plant of the Mediterranean region, requiring a lot of sun and warmth. Therefore, she prefers sunny and sheltered positions, the south-western exposure is the best for her. The medium for the cultivation of medicinal sage should be moderately fertile and well-drained, with a neutral to slightly alkaline reaction.Sage does not tolerate heavy soils and flooded soils.
Sowing seeds, planting
Sage seedssow in March into boxes or boxes to a depth of 0.5 cm. In April, the seeds can be sown on the seedbed to a depth of 1 cm. The seedlings are replaced permanently when they produce 3 leaves. In summer, semi-woody cuttings can also be harvested from the plants.
Fertilizing sage
Forfertilization of sageit is enough to use small amounts of compost, which we sprinkle under the plants in spring. If you do not have your own compost, you can use biohumus sold in stores. The growth of medical sage can be improved by fertilization with mineral nitrogen fertilizers, but it must be remembered that if we overdo it with fertilizer, the sage will be too bulky and not very aromatic, and as a result it will become more susceptible to aphids (the aroma of sage deters these pests). In addition, when growing herbs intended for consumption, it is better to use only natural fertilizers, such as the aforementioned compost or biohumus.
Harvesting and storing sage
Medicinal sagecan be harvested 2-3 times per season, starting just before flowering, when the plant has the highest concentration of essential oils. I also encourage you tocollect sageearly in the morning, as this time of day also promotes a higher concentration of essential oils. As with other herbs,harvesting medical sageis done on a sunny day in fine weather. The harvested herb is completely dried and stored in this way. Crush it best just before use.
Sage wintering
Medicinal sageis a perennial but sensitive to frost. It can overwinter in the garden, provided that it is properly secured. Before the onset of winter,sage should be coveredin order to protect, above all, its root ball from freezing. A layer of mulch or twigs can be used. In early spring, the cover is removed and the plant is strongly pruned (it is best to do it in March, trimming all shoots at a height of 8-10 cm).In this way, frozen shoots are removed and the sage is stimulated to branch.
Use of medical sage
Healing properties of sage
Medicinal sagehas a fungicidal and bactericidal effect. Sage infusion is used to rinse the throat and mouth, it helps with toothache and gum pain. Drinking sage tea helps to improve digestion and prevents excessive sweating.Healing properties of sageis also used in aromatherapy, where sage oil is used. It can be added to base oil for massage, bathing or inhalation. In this way, it supports the treatment of rheumatic diseases, muscle pains and bacterial infections. Sage baths are also used to treat skin diseases.
However, remember not to use sage for too long or too large amounts. Sage oil contains thujone, which when abused can damage the nervous system and become addictive.
The use of sage in the kitchen
However,medical sageis not only a medicinal plant, but also a spice. It is especially popular in Italian cuisine. As mentioned before, sage facilitates digestion, and is therefore an ideal addition to fatty meats and fish, such as eel dishes.Fresh sage leavescan be an aromatic addition to salads. A very simple dish to prepare is pasta with butter and sage.
The use of sage in plant protection
The smell of sage is not liked by snails and aphids as well as cabbage cabbage soup. That is why it is worth planting sage next to the cabbage beds. It is also worth planting sage with beans, fennel, carrots and rosemary. Watering plants with diluted sage extract scares agriculture away.
Katarzyna Matuszak
