How to Grow Sage Plants in Texas

Planting

• 1

  Select an appropriate site to plant to or place the container you will plant the sage in. Sage needs abundant sunlight to thrive, even in Texas. It also prefers dry soil. Finally, sage spreads to a bushy breadth of 2 feet. When selecting a site, find one that has ample sunlight, is not in a low spot inclined to pool water and is not too close to other plants.

• 2

  Plant seeds shallowly, between 1/4 and 1/8 inch deep, in the early spring. Consult a gardening almanac or the "Texas Interactive Last Frost Map" to find out when the last frost is in your region. In most areas of Texas, this occurs in April. Plant the seeds after the last frost, as sprouts will be killed by the cold. Alternatively, plant stem cuttings from an established sage bush. Ideally the soil will have a loamy consistency. If it's too hard or has excessive clay, mix in compost or fertilizer. Mulch is unnecessary and will retain moisture, which can lead to rot for this arid herb.

• 3

  Thin sprouts after two weeks of growth, leaving 2 feet between each seedling. Sage bushes are large perennials and will eventually fill this space. For most households, a single bush is adequate as it can be harvested multiple times in a single year.

Tending Sage

• 4

  Water the plant sparingly, once or twice a week depending on the heat. Sage can easily develop rot if over watered, as it's adapted to warm, dry regions. If the leaves begin to wilt or curl, the plant is signaling it needs more water. Otherwise, let it enjoy its dry, sunny days.

• 5

  Clip woody stems in the early spring. The best tasting leaves come from thin, fresh shoots. By removing older growth, you encourage the plant to produce new stems and more flavorful leaves.

• 6

  Harvest leaves from the bush up to twice a year, though in the first year harvest from it sparingly. When harvesting, leave approximately a fourth of the stems and leaves on the plant to nourish it as it regrows. You can either snip leaves off individually or cut entire stems. If you strip all the leaves from a stem, it's best to cut it off the plant. Otherwise, it will continue to leech nutrients.