Companion planting is a science mostly used to diversify and maintain the health of a garden. Growing herbs in the backyard can be a great way to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem, and if it is coupled with the companion planting strategy, nothing can be better. We shall learn about various plants that can be cultivated alongside sage in this feed. We’ll also pay attention to the plants that should never be grown with this herb.
Sage is comparable to other herbs in terms of ease of maintenance. Sage is a perennial, evergreen herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region and a member of the Lamiaceae mint family. It is a very useful herb and makes a wonderful garden companion. It promotes the development and attracts pollinators while also serving as a natural insect deterrent.
This herb can be combined with a wide variety of other plants. Therefore, we will research the concept thoroughly in this piece and highlight the top plants to cultivate with this herb.
Sage- The Basics
This section will outline the fundamentals of sage before going into what plants go well with it. Understanding basic information about this herb is crucial to growing it in the best conditions and pairing it with the right plants.
Sage is a Mediterranean herb, as was already mentioned; thus, it prefers direct, intense sunlight. This herb grows erect and enjoys dry, sandy soil. It is a robust herb with grayish-green leaves and purple, blue, white, and pink blossoms.
Sage is commonly believed to be edible, which is true. Not all sage kinds, nevertheless, can be consumed. That being said, Salvia Officinalis is the most popular type of kitchen sage. This plant has several health advantages and contains antioxidants. Sage is frequently utilized to treat conditions like
- Stomach ache
- Painful periods
- Dry mouth
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Sore throat
- Sunburn, etc.
Here is a table for you that discusses the basics of sage in brief.
| Common name | Sage; Common Sage; Garden Sage |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Salvia Officinalis |
| Native | Mediterranean regions |
| Type | Perennial evergreen |
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Flower color | Purple, blue, white, and pink |
| Bloom time | Late spring and summer |
| Sun exposure | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-draining, loamy soil |
| pH | Acidic, neutral (6–7) |
| Hardiness zones | USDA 4-10 |
| Health benefits | Yes |
| Essential oil | Yes |
Why Practice Companion Planting?
So, you are thinking of pairing sage with other garden plants? This is something called companion planting. But have you given a thought to why practice companion planting?
Let’s quickly examine it. Companion planting is a science that has been used since ancient times, as we previously indicated. The foundation of companion planting is the idea that friendly plants that are cultivated together will support one other’s growth and success.
Companion planting is a great practice with many benefits. First, it saves room, which is one of the most important. You can combine various plants at one location (side by side or one after another). Therefore, you do not need to create separate rooms for different plants.
The second advantage of this science is that it helps keep illnesses and pests out of your garden. For example, pests will loathe your garden if you plant catnip, marigolds, rue, and other such plants, letting other plants thrive. The other reason is that many plants provide shade on sweltering summer days. Therefore, combining plants that thrive in the shade with taller plants, such as corn and sunflower, may be advantageous.
Another justification for companion planting is that it improves the state of the soil. Beans and other legumes, for instance, can assist in fixing nitrogen in the soil, improving the nutrition of nearby plants. Companion planting also draws pollinators like bees and butterflies, which is last but not least. Your garden will become a pollinator refuge, especially if you cultivate plants like nasturtium and rosemary alongside other plants.
9 Plants to Grow With Sage
Finally, we have reached the most crucial section of the article. Here, we find the best companion plants that go well with sage. Keep in mind that sage benefits other plants along with gaining advantages from them. You can also plant this herb as border plants because it grows bushy.
1. Brassicas
Brassicas pair well with sage. One of the main reasons to pair sage with brassicas is that sage emits a strong scent that keeps pests at bay that otherwise affects brassicas negatively. Pests on which sage tend to impact negatively include cabbage moths, cabbage worms, flea beetles, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, and so on.
Therefore, it is a good idea to plant sage near brassica plants like
- Kale
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Kohlrabi
- Brussels Sprouts
2. Mediterranian Herbs
Sage is a Mediterranean herb; therefore, combining it with other herbs from the same region makes sense. Why? Since all these herbs will have comparable growing requirements, you can grow them together. And guess what? You can create a healthy and easy-to-grow herb garden by combining different Mediterranean herbs.
Having stated that,s the following herbs can be combined with sage:
- Oregano
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Marjoram
3. Rosemary
Rosemary is another herb that goes well with sage. The primary benefit of combining these plants is that they both emit odors that deter some pests. In other words, you can grow sage and rosemary next to each other in a spicy herb garden.
4. Parsley
Another herb that pairs well with sage is parsley. These herbs have no negative effects on one another when they are planted together. On the other hand, Sage can draw bees and other pollinators that will help better pollinate parsley.
5. Carrots
If you are growing carrots in your garden, you are probably aware that carrot rust flies regularly attack this vegetable. These flies can burrow into the plant’s roots and render the entire vegetable inedible. Therefore, combining carrots and sage is one of the safest and most natural strategies to ward off these insects. By disguising the developing carrots’ smell, the sage’s powerful odor will deter carrot flies.
Additionally, pairing carrots with sage would enhance the veggies’ flavor and keep them from decomposing quickly. And lastly, since carrot is a root crop, it does not compete with sage. Therefore, cultivating these two plants together won’t provide any problems.
6. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most delectable berries available. So, cultivating them in your backyard might be smart if you want a constant supply of this fruit. However, strawberry sap bugs, lead rollers, and other critters can harm strawberries. Sage can thus be grown close to your berry plants to deter pests and improve the flavor of the berries.
Remember that slugs can be drawn to strawberries and sage plants. And the likelihood of a slug invasion in your yard will probably rise if you combine these plants. So it is best to avoid pairing these plants if slugs and snails are a problem in your region.
7. Tomatoes
Sage is a helpful plant to grow with tomatoes since it can deter flea beetles and draw beneficial insects/ pollinators to the tomato plants. Combine tomatoes with sage and borage if hornworms are a problem for you. Similarly, combining it with sage and cilantro will be beneficial if the vegetable has spider mites.
8. Beans
Sage goes well with both pole and bush beans. Leguminous plants like these two aid in the fixation of nitrogen in the soil. And sage benefits from soil that is high in nitrogen. Thus, combining beans and sage will ensure that your herb receives a steady supply of nitrogen-rich soil, which will support its growth and enhance its flavor.
9. Nasturtium
Nasturtium is renowned for being an effective insect deterrent and wonderful companion plant. So you can definitely get rid of whiteflies that assault sage if you combine nasturtium with this herb. Furthermore, your herb garden would be brightened by the lovely nasturtium blooms.
Problems That Bother Sage Plant
Sage is a great herb that acts as a natural insect repeller. Yet, this herb is bothered by certain pest issues. So, let’s go through some common problems that sage faces due to pests.
Spider Mites
Sage can be bothered by spider mites that can be found on the undersides of leaves. These mites puncture the cells of the host plant to feed themselves.
Snails and Slugs
Another problem that causes issues for sage is the suckers. Here, we are talking about snails and slugs that can feed on the herb’s leaves.
Spitter Bugs
If you find your herb dotted with something that looks like someone has spit on its parts, be sure it has been affected by spitter bugs. These bugs can deform the leaves and feed on them.
Plants That Should Not be Grown with Sage
Sage is a secure plant that complements many other garden plants. However, there are several plants; nevertheless, that should never be cultivated with this herb. We shall discuss some of the unfavorable sage companion plants in this part. These plants shouldn’t be combined for various reasons, such as competition for food, lack of available space, poisonous effects, and more.
1. Basil
Basil and sage have different growing requirements, which is the main reason why you shouldn’t combine the two. Sage loves drier soil conditions, while basil enjoys moisture. So, if you grow sage beside basil, there is a good risk that it will have root rot due to over-watering.
2. Rue
Rue seems to be a plant that does not do well next several herbs, including sage. Rue can inhibit sage’s growth. So, it is better to grow these plants in separate areas of the garden.
3. Cucumber
Cucumber growth may be suppressed by sage. Therefore, it is never advised to combine these two plants. It can result in stunted development and a bad flavor in your cucumbers.
4. Allium
Alliums like onion, garlic, chives, and shallots shouldn’t be planted alongside sage because they need more water to thrive. Conversely, Sage needs less water than these plants. So, sage growth may experience problems because of the additional wetness. Therefore, pairing allium and sage together would be discouraged due to their distinct watering requirements.
5. Fennel
The majority of plants and herbs do not blend well with fennel. Fennel tends to be allelopathic to most herbs, including sage. So, fennel can prevent sage from growing optimally. Therefore, keep fennel and sage apart or grow them in separate containers.
FAQ’s
Yes, different types of sages can be planted together. Since different sage plants will have similar growth needs, they can easily be planted together.
Yes, your sage with come back every year. It is a perennial plant and a self-reproducer. So, you can expect this herb to return every year.
Some varieties of sage can spread quickly and be invasive. That said, the Salvia Aethiopis Sage is the most well-known invasive species. Therefore, it is preferable to cultivate them in separate pots rather than planting them directly in the garden soil if you intend to grow this species.
Yes, you can grow sage and lavender together. They both need drier soil and are perennial herbs. They can therefore endure similar circumstances.
The Takeaway
A great herb to grow in your garden is sage. With most garden plants, it is a safe herb to grow. Additionally, your garden will be free of pests and turn into a paradise for pollinators if you grow this herb. That said, this post will assist you in learning about the plants that grow well with sage if you intend to grow it in your garden. Please comment below if you have any further suggestions for sage companion plants. We hope you enjoyed this post.
