Salvia officinalis

How to grow Salvia officinalis – growing and care:

Well-drained soil

How to care:
Put mulch especially when grow in full sun and possible to reduce the amount of water, but if there are a lot of rains better to let the soil dry the plants suffer if will be too much moist soil

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (care instruction bellow) / Vegetative reproduction- possible by bending a branch over and covering it with soil, or by cutting, the cutting possible to put in water and switch the water every few days or put the stem in soil better peat soil and better with root growth hormone, in both cutting methods better to do it in spring or autumn but possible to put in temperatures 20-25C (69-77F)

Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
No, but easier to grow

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Sensitive to moist, and water on the leaves

Planting season?
Spring, summer / in warm climate also autumn, winter

Pests and diseases:
Leafhoppers, aphids

Pruning season:
Winter

How to prune:
Dead leaves and stems, when grow it for edible reasons better to prune the bloom stems in order to get better quality of leaves

Size of the plant:
0.3-1 m, 1-3 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun (in cold climate or need to increase the amount of water) / Half Shade / Full shade (in warm climate with light)

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
Yes, but require light and might not bloom

Growing is also possible in a pot planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 10-20L (2.6-5.2 gallons), require small to average amount of water with well-drained soil and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom of pot, every few years to switch soil can be all or just part of the soil, soil need to be well ventilated and make enough hole in the containers with good drainage, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring – summer and in hardiness zone of 10b-11 can bloom also in the autumn

General information about the flower
Small purple flower that grow on stalk in inflorescence

Pollination is done by:
Bees, flies

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 4-7, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 8-10a, all year in hardiness zone 10b-11

How to harvest the leaves?
Better to cut the stems the after the plant established

Information about leaves:
Hairy green some cultivars green with gray, purple, yellow or white, in oval shape, there are to different growth of leaves winter and summer, the winter leaves smaller and thick.

Uses of Salvia officinalis leaves:
Herbs, spices, beverage

How to grow Salvia officinalis from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Better to sow it in temperature of 15-25C (59-77F) possible in 10-29C (50-84F) but will take more time to germinate and less seeds will germinate

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location better in root temperature or refrigerator

Sowing season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone lower that 10a (include) spring, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b+ spring, autumn or winter, and better not to sow it in hot summer days

How to plant:
Plant in sunny location until 25C (77F) above in half shade

Planting spacing:
30*40cm (12*16 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
3-6mm (0.2-0.4 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, humidity, sunny location

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water, don’t let the soil dry and keep the soil moist

Germination time:
2-3 weeks in optimal condition but can take 5 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, sunny location but if it’s in the summer need to increase the amount of water

Scientific name:

Salvia officinalis