Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG

gardenwriter 5/19/2010, 4:36 pm

I over-wintered a sage plant in the garage and instead of dying--as expected--it is now blooming. Quite nice!

What do we know about putting sage in a SFG? And are the flowers to be encouraged or nipped?

My new stone walled SFG is gorgeous (pictures have been posted), but OMG do I have a lot of planting to do. I'd like to include some annual flowers besides the ones mentioned in the book, cutting flowers in particular. Any recommendations?

Gardenwriter

Retired Member 1 5/20/2010, 5:10 pm

I love sage! Not sure how well it would work in SFG since it's a perennial unless you have a bed dedicated to just perennials. Perhaps put it in a large pot in the garden?

I grow crackerjack marigolds and california giant zinnias in my SFG for cutting. Those are about the only annual flowers that do well all summer in our heat. I would think any annual that doesn't spread too much would work well. Just choose some that do well in your climate.

gardenwriter 5/20/2010, 5:53 pm

I appreciate the feedback. Do the giant zinnias need any staking? I'd love to put some of those in.

Sage is not a perennial here in Wisconsin. I'll let you know how it works!

Thanks again for responding!

miinva 5/20/2010, 5:56 pm

I have a bed that's dedicated to sunflowers or all sizes and varieties (although a couple of cucumbers snuck into the end of the bed!) Smile

Retired Member 1 5/20/2010, 6:32 pm

I've never had to stake the California giant zinnias and they grow 3' or more tall. If you live in a particularly windy area you might have to occasionally, but not on a regular basis. Here's a pic of them growing with marigolds in an ornamental bed. They are about 30" tall and if I keep them deadheaded they will produce all summer. I forgot in my previous post about cosmos -- they are also great in that they get 4-5' tall but are very "airy" so don't shade other plants.

Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG Zinnia10

Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG Zinnia10

Megan 5/20/2010, 6:53 pm

Around here, sage is perennial (mine is anyway) and my one plant is enormous. I have never nipped the flowers, they are so pretty and the bees love them. My plant does not pack up after blooming.

Shoda 5/20/2010, 7:07 pm

Thanks for the information on sage flowers. I was wondering about it. Our sage plant is quite large also. Does anyone have a recipe that uses a cup of fresh sage? I feel like I should be using it more then I am!

Megan 5/20/2010, 7:11 pm

Shoda wrote:Thanks for the information on sage flowers. I was wondering about it. Our sage plant is quite large also. Does anyone have a recipe that uses a cup of fresh sage? I feel like I should be using it more then I am!

My favorite is to do frizzled sage in browned butter. I could take a bath in that stuff! *swoon*

Just snapped a picture, here is my sage bush....complete with unmowed lawn and all! Wink

Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG Photo-744763

Shoda 5/20/2010, 7:45 pm

Frizzled sage, huh? Never heard of it. A web search says it is just washed, dried leaves cooked in oil or butter until crisp, right? What do you eat it with?

Megan 5/20/2010, 7:54 pm

Shoda wrote:Frizzled sage, huh? Never heard of it. A web search says it is just washed, dried leaves cooked in oil or butter until crisp, right? What do you eat it with?

Frizzled sage is just one name for it. Burnt or browned butter sage sauce is what it's usually called, I think.

Use unsalted butter, it is wasted in oil as the browned bits from the milkfat are what really make it. It is very good on pastas, winter squashes, veggies, etc. I finely slice the leaves (julienne) before I frizzle it, but you can do them whole, too... those would be nice presentation/eats with roast pork or turkey. Or just mop it up with a good bread ;-)

Come to think of it... it would probably be an awesome base for a white pizza. Twisted Evil

gardenwriter 5/20/2010, 10:25 pm

Love the flower pictures and the frizzled sage recipe! Thank you all.

Shoda 5/21/2010, 12:19 am

Yum... I am so going to try it this weekend. Sounds wonderful!

herblover 5/21/2010, 3:13 pm

I wouldn't put sage in my box; at least where I live (zone 5b) it will get huge! In my apt herb garden when I left you could hide a small child in it. It gets really woody after several years.

miinva 5/21/2010, 3:40 pm

I have some tires full of MM in my front yard (classy, I know *giggle*... that's country livin'!), so maybe I'll try to grow some sage there. Last year my pineapple sage got HUGE! But it didn't survive the winter Sad

Megan 5/21/2010, 6:53 pm

It sure does, herblover. That photo I posted is AFTER I harvested a double-armful of boughs last year.

Miinva, I haven't tried to grow pineapple sage since I moved back east. It grew very well in Southern California, though. May be just my imagination, but I think it is a very different plant. :?:

**mckr3441** 5/28/2010, 11:31 am

I'm a flower gardener trying to learn how to grow veggies. Last year I did a 2x6 SFG with flowers and it did great!

I had cleome, Gerbera Daisys, Cosmos, digitalis, silver mound artemesia, seed dahlias, portulaca (moss rose) and impatience. In small pots w/Mel's Mix I had nicotianna.

I'm not doing so well with the veggies! I may stick to flowers Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG Icon_lol

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Sage and Cutting Flowers in the SFG Img_1810

gardenwriter 5/29/2010, 7:05 am

Thanks for the feedback!

The garden is mostly planted with vegetables now, but I have planted salvia, dahlia, calla lily plants, and seeds for cosmos and nasturtiums. I'll post pictures when things are a little more showy.

Gardenwriter

Megan 5/29/2010, 7:46 am

Yay nasturtiums! I grew one direct-seeded in MM, and bought another... and I'm telling ya, mine looks healthier!

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