Spanish sage is native to Spain and the south of France. It's a low-growing shrub with narrow, grey-green leaves. It blooms with blue - purple (mauve) flowers. This Spanish sage can also be used in the kitchen. It's delicious with poultry, pork, lamb, veal, stews, sauces, dressings, tomato dishes, aubergine, soups and cheese dishes.
The word sage comes from the verb salvere meaning to save or treat. Sage has several healing properties: it's calming, it strengthens your immune system, it heals your airways, liver and lymphatic system. It's also a natural antibiotic for coughs and colds. It's expectorant and soothes sore throats. Sage also has sleep-inducing and calming properties. Sage tea can help women to alleviate menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety, anger and other menopause symptoms. Sage tea can also help with urinary tract problems and various women's ailments such as menstrual problems and PMS. Sage also helps against excessive sweating. Don't drink too much sage tea. 2 cups per day is fine.
From the leaves of the Spanish Sage, an oil can be extracted by steam distillation. This essential oil can be used against all kinds of ailments, such as: muscle pain, colds, fevers, headaches, rheumatic complaints, stress, acne and poor circulation. It's important to use this oil moderately, just as with sage tea, and pregnant women shouldn't use this oil during pregnancy. This oil blends well with other essential oils such as: eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, sandalwood, juniper and rosemary.
It's also a beautiful evergreen and hardy garden plant that also attracts bees and butterflies. It needs a sunny spot with calcareous and well-draining soil. To keep the plant looking good and stimulate the growth of fresh new leaves, it can be pruned in March after the winter. Hardy perennial. Height: 50 - 60 cm.
Indoor sowing: April - May
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 10 - 21 days
Germinationtemp.: 18 - 20°C
Sowing depth.: ½ - 1 cm
Plant distance: 30 - 45 cm
Planting postition: sunny
Harvesting period: June - October
Sow indoors from early April to May. Sow in trays filled with moist potting soil. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting compost. Keep the temperature as even as possible. Don't let the temperature drop at night. Transplant the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle, to seperate pots. Put them away a bit cooler (17 - 18°C). Harden the seedlings of by putting them outdoors during the day for approx. 10 -14 days on a sunny plot from the beginning of May. Put the plants on a sunny plot with free draining soil after the hardening off period. Keep 30 - 45 cm apart.
Sowing outside is possible from mid May, as soon as there is no risk of night frost. Sow in rows or groups. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them too 30 - 45 cm. A sunny spot with shelter and chalky, well-drained soil is important. Sage is not affected by diseases and insects and is therefore an easy plant to grow. To keep the plant looking good and stimulate the growth of fresh new leaves, it can be pruned in March, after the winter.
