Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to the wise, wonderful world of growing your own sage!

According to Medical News Today, there are more than 900 species of this ancient herb that offer not just an aromatic way to season food, but have antibacterial, medicinal, and even spiritual properties.

Plus, the versatile sage plant is easy to grow and maintain in almost any climate or indoors. It’s no wonder sage is consistently on the top 10 list for herb gardeners. That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, healing with, and cooking—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown sage.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about sage—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about sage gardening—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced herb and food gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of sage and the recipes!

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of sage, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics and best uses for each one.

While there are hundreds of varieties of sage, we’ve chosen these to profile because they are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another sage variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Sage is no exception! You will be sure to delight everyone at your table when you use sage to flavor any of these dishes, making them staples in your household.

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Sage to find out exactly which nutrients are found in sage—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Sage will help you learn about how key nutrients in sage can help prevent some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for sage, besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the wonderful world of sage even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious sage, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Now, go and be the wisest sage grower you can be!