When to plant sage by city
Start sage indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks after your last frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Jan 12–26 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Nov 10–24 | Jan 5–19 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow sage from fall through winter.
Sage spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 1 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 18 inches apart with 24 inches between rows.
Woody perennial; trim in spring to keep it from sprawling.
How to grow sage
Culinary sage is a woody, evergreen perennial with soft gray-green leaves. It is hardy in about zones 4–8 and asks for little beyond sun and drainage, though it struggles in hot, humid coastal areas. Plants sprawl and get woody over time unless trimmed each spring.
Sun and soil
Full sun and excellent drainage. Sage prefers lean, dry, sandy or rocky soil with a pH of about 6.0–7.5 and does not tolerate wet or poorly drained ground.
Planting
- Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost, about ¼ inch deep, or buy plants or root cuttings.
- Transplant from the last frost date to 2 weeks after, when soil is about 60°F.
- Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart.
Care
- Water deeply but infrequently, letting soil dry between waterings. Skip rich fertilizer.
- Trim plants in spring once new growth begins, cutting back by about a third. Mature, woody stems rarely resprout, so do not cut into bare wood.
- Space plants for airflow, especially in humid climates.
- Replace plants every 4–5 years as they get woody and less productive.
Harvest
Pick leaves lightly in the first year, more freely after that. Flavor is strongest before the plant flowers. Leaves dry easily for winter use.
Common problems
- Root rot: Plants wilt and collapse in wet soil. Grow in raised beds or containers in heavy soil and water sparingly.
- Powdery mildew: White patches in humid weather. Improve airflow, water at the base, and remove affected stems.
- Slugs: Holes in lower leaves. Hand-pick in the evening and keep mulch away from the stems.
- Spittlebugs: Frothy white masses on stems. They do little harm; hose them off.
Varieties to try
- 'Berggarten' — broad silvery leaves, rarely flowers, resists mildew
- 'Icterina' — gold-variegated leaves, mostly ornamental
- 'Purpurascens' — purple-tinged leaves, less winter hardy
- 'Tricolor' — green, white and pink leaves, not winter hardy
Crop rotation
Sage belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Mostly herbs and perennials; rotation matters little. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: basil, mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant sage?
How far apart should I plant sage?
How long do sage take to grow?
Can sage handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023
- Salvia officinalis (sage) — NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Herbs — Clemson Cooperative Extension (HGIC)