How to grow sage in pots: care, pruning and harvest

Pot and soil

A pot at least 25 cm (10 in) wide, ideally terracotta, with good drainage. All-purpose mix with some grit or pumice.

Full sun. It handles summer heat and, in mild climates, winter outdoors.

Moderate: about every 5 days in summer, when the soil is dry. Very little in winter. Soft, dark leaves almost always mean too much water.

A balanced feed once a month in spring and summer.

When it's ready

Large velvety leaves; flavour peaks just before flowering.

How to harvest

Pick leaves or shoot tips. A trim after flowering keeps it compact.

White powder on leaves

Powdery mildew, common with humidity and still air. Remove affected leaves and improve airflow.

Long, bare stems

Prune in late winter, cutting stems back by half just above a bud.

Leaves blackening at the base

Rot from overwatering. Water less and check drainage.

When should I prune sage?

In late winter or early spring, cutting stems back by half. A light trim after flowering too.

When do I harvest sage?

All year, a few leaves at a time; it's most aromatic before flowering.

How long does sage live in a pot?

4-5 good years; then it goes woody and is best replaced with a cutting.