In order to be able to harvest sage properly, it requires a little background knowledge. Anyone who carelessly tackles the evergreen shrub with scissors will, in the worst case, lose the entire plant. We explain in a practical way what is important when it comes to professional harvesting.

Harvesting consistently brings benefits

As a classic subshrub, sage thrives in the lower part in a woody manner and in the upper part as a herb. The fresh, herbaceous sprouting that thrives every spring is suitable for consumption or for numerous other uses. If this part is not cut, lignification will gradually prevail here. Harvesting and cutting go hand in hand with this Mediterranean labiate. The advantages at a glance:

  • continuous harvesting reduces the degree of lignification
  • herbaceous shoot tips are encouraged to branch
  • a rich yield for storage is available

If you harvest sage correctly according to these instructions, you will kill several birds with one stone. Optionally, both fresh and preserved sage are available for the desired processing. At the same time, every harvest serves to maintain vitality and prevents excessive lignification.

Step-by-step instructions for beds and balconies

With the beginning of the vegetation period, the first fresh shoot tips appear in May at the latest and invite you to enjoy the flavor. Now there is no stopping sage friends, because the time of harvest can begin. Here's how to do it:

  • in the afternoon of the day before, gently shower off the herbal plant
  • wait the next day for the dew to evaporate
  • then cut off the herbaceous tips of the shoots in the late morning
  • in no case cut into the woody part

What you do not process fresh is used for storage. Sage is excellent for drying and freezing.

Premium quality harvest just before flowering

Sage strives to flower from June. In the days before, the aroma content in the leaves is at its highest level, only to drop significantly thereafter. At this point at the latest, the plant should be harvested all around so that the first-class harvest quality is not lost. If the formation of seeds is not desired, experienced hobby gardeners cut off the inflorescences in connection with the harvest.

Last harvest in August

This year's sage harvest ends in mid to late August. Thanks to this prudence, you protect the plant from winter damage, because all branches can mature in time before the first forest. In addition, the remaining branches serve as effective winter protection.

tips and tricks

When a sage bush blooms, the leaves are by no means lost for meaningful use. The aroma content is reduced significantly, but the valuable tannins and flavonoids remain in the leaves. These components contribute significantly to the fact that sage has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries.

GTH

Category:

Herbs