I love companion planting, sage is great as a companion and many vegetables grow well with sage such as tomatoes, peas and cauliflower as well as herbs such as rosemary and thyme. The mutual benefits and enhanced crop yield are what drives me to develop strategic ideas for companion plants for sage.
The sage plant (Salvia officinalis), is aromatic and versatile both in cooking as well as gardening. It is a perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family with medicinal properties as well as ornamental value with its striking blue flowers.
However, like any garden denizen, it faces its fair share of challenges, including the threat of pest infestations such as spider mites, slugs and leafhoppers. Enter companion planting—a holistic approach to gardening that pairs compatible plants together to promote growth, deter pests, and create a thriving ecosystem.
Understanding the Basics: Why Companion Planting Matters
Before diving into the world of companion plants for sage, or indeed sage as a companion plant, it’s essential to understand why! I always look to nature as my guide. Nature and natural systems do not have one single crop or one single species growing together.
In natural systems there are synergistic relationships between plants. Tall trees provide shade and protection for young saplings and flowers. Systems that provide mutual benefit to all are the ones that thrive in nature.
Companion planting is our way of mimicking nature. It involves growing different crops in close proximity to one another to achieve mutual benefits. These benefits can range from pest control and improved soil fertility to enhanced pollination and increased biodiversity.
“Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.” Permaculture Principle Use and Value Diversity
The Benefits of Companion Planting for Sage
When it comes to growing sage, selecting the right companions can make a world of difference. Here are some of the key benefits:
1. Pest Control
Sage works as a natural pest repellent with its strong scent and aromatic leaves, making it a good friend to many neighboring plants. Certain companion plants can help repel common sage pests such as spider mites and slugs. By strategically interplanting these species, you can create a natural barrier against insect infestations.
2. Improved Soil Health
Legumes like dwarf or bush beans and peas are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit neighboring sage plants.
3. Enhanced Pollination
Planting aromatic herbs and flowers like calendula near your sage crop can attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and pollinators, contributing to overall garden health and productivity. Sage can be used to enhance pollination of other garden plants.
4. Complementary Growth Habits
Pairing sage with taller plants like tomatoes or brussels sprouts can provide shade and shelter, while planting herbs with similar sun and water needs such as rosemary and thyme can make your life easier.
5. Improved crop yield
With all of the benefits of better pollination, better soil health and fewer pests the outcome is better crop yields. That’s a win win for nature and for you the gardener.
Best Sage Companion Plants – Fruit and Vegetables
1. Strawberries
There are some pairings in the garden that are also great in the kitchen. I love these types of synergies. Strawberries and sage are one such pairing. Growing sage alongside strawberries really enhances the flavour of the strawberries.
2. Brassicas
Any or all of the brassica family plants I grow include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts benefit from having sage growing nearby. That lovely strong smell that sage gives off is an excellent deterrent to cabbage moths, cabbage worms and even black flea beetles. I used to plant brassicas and they would be riddled with pests. But now I grow sage in close proximity to my brassicas and it has changed my crop yield for the better.
3. Carrots
Keeping that pesky carrot fly away from the carrot crop is tricky, however the strong aroma of sage does this well. Boosting the yields.
4. Apples and other fruit trees
Sage makes an excellent companion among the fruit trees. I always try to plant a guild or family of herbs alongside my fruit trees, this companion planting helps all plants to thrive and sage is an excellent choice (also in the kitchen – apple and sage work well together!)
5. Climbing or Pole Beans, Dwarf or Bush Beans and Peas
As nitrogen-fixing plants, all of these legumes enrich the soil around sage, promoting its growth and enhancing crop yield.
6. Tomatoes
A beautiful flowering sage plant attracts pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden. This helps the tomato plants to thrive. Sage with its strong aroma also deters pests from the tomato plant resulting in better yields.
Best Sage Companion Plants – Herbs
7. Lemon Balm
This member of the mint family not only complements sage with its lemony aroma but also attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, which prey on harmful pests like cabbage loopers and cabbage moths.
8. Rosemary
Another member of the mint family, rosemary complements sage with its drought-tolerant nature and helps deter carrot flies and cabbage moths.
9. Thyme
All thyme, but lemon thyme, in particular, is an excellent companion to sage, as its strong scent repels cabbage worms and other unwanted pests.
Bad companion plants for sage
1. Cucumber
Sage is known to inhibit the growth of cucumbers. Cucumbers are also known to inhibit the growth of sage because they grow so big and can swamp the sage plant. Beware of where you plant your small cucumber plants, they will grow!
2. Basil
Basil is a thirsty crop, sage is not. Their different growing conditions mean that they are poor neighbours.
3. Alliums, onions and garlic
This is one example where the kitchen combination does not repeat in the garden. Because sage likes to grow in dry conditions and alliums prefer wetter conditions they are not the best pairing in the garden.
4. Fennel
Poor fennel, it doesn’t do well with many plants. But that is because it is allelopathic which means it releases a strong scent that inhibits growth of those plants around it. Keep sage and fennel separate.
Creating a Sage Companion Garden
When planning your herb garden, consider the following tips for successful companion planting with sage:
– Similar Growing Conditions: Choose companion plants that thrive in similar growing conditions to ensure harmonious coexistence.
– Well-Drained Soil: Sage prefers well-drained soil, so select companions that share this preference to avoid waterlogging.
– Full Sun: Most companion plants for sage also enjoy full sun, making them ideal partners for a sunny herb garden bed.
– Crop Rotation: Rotate companion plants each growing season to prevent soil depletion and maintain a balanced ecosystem.
– Diversity: Incorporate a variety of companion plants to attract a wide range of beneficial insects and provide natural pest control.
I love herb spirals. A herb spiral is such a great way to companion plant with sage. Herb spirals ensure that you have all of your herbs in one place, making best use of all the different conditions that a spiral offers. There is always full sun and partial shade on offer as well as drier and wetter areas. Plus it is so easy to harvest from a herb spiral.
In conclusion, companion planting with sage is not only a good idea but also an essential practice for any organic gardener looking to maximize the productivity and resilience of their vegetable and herb garden. By selecting the right companions and fostering a diverse ecosystem, you can create a thriving garden that benefits both plants and people alike. Let me know what combinations work best for you in the comments below.