Sage (Salvia officinalis)Perennial shrub, 2 feet. Does best in light soil, for on cold heavy soils it is apt to die out in a severe winter. Full sun is essential. Propagate by cuttings taken in May. Put out the plants in their permanent positions in autumn, 18 inches apart. The floriferous variety of this Sage is best propagated by seed sown in May in
drills half an inch deep. Floriferous Sage is, as a rule, shorter lived than the non-floriferous kind. Sage is, first and foremost, very tasty and makes a delightful, useful addition to any garden. Sage has been used in meat dishes for centuries, and we now know that sage break down the fats in meat, making the food more flavoursome and easy to digest. Sage has been used throughout the ages for medical and magical purposes. The Latin name, Salvia, literally means ‘to save’, as in to save one’s life. "Cur moriatur homo cui Salvia crescit in horto?" Middle Age proverb.("Why should a man die whilst sage grows in his garden?") Sage has incredibly antibacterial properties. |