Saving Sage Seeds
I have a beautiful culinary sage plant that grows right outside the back door. It thrives in this location, with full sun and elevated dry soil. Since this is it’s second year in the garden, it bloomed beautifully and is HUGE. This plant was started from seed from Renee’s Garden. I decided to save seed from it because it’s such a hardy plant, definitely has genes I’d like to keep going. The hummingbirds and other pollinators LOVE it too!
Since sage is edible, I figured I could use the seeds for sprouting purposes. I’ve never had sage sprouts before, but I’m guessing they’d be wonderful on a turkey sandwich, sprinkled on top of butternut squash soup or a salad. Maybe they’ll be really terrible, but you never know until you try. I’m assuming the sprouts will taste like sage, the seeds certainly smell like it. Maybe they’ll even be great browned in some butter just like sage leaves are.
After the plant bloomed, I waited until the seed pods were brown and dry, then we cut off the flowering stems (you can cut the plant back by about a third or half if you want at this time). The seeds pop right out of the little dried buds.
Mr Chiots and I sat on the back deck one evening enjoying the cool evening while harvesting a good number of seeds. Of course Dexter was at hand to inspect our work and make sure we were doing it right.
I grow tons of herbs in the garden and enjoy them all year long both fresh and dried along with lots of spices purchased from Mt Rose Herbs. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how spices and herbs and super healthy, many of them containing more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. I’ve always loved spicy food so this makes me very happy. Even though we eat lots of herbs & spices already I’ve been trying to find other ways to add them to our diets. These sage sprouts should add a little healthy goodness!
I also saved tons of ‘Red Russian’ kale seed for the same purpose. When I have more garden space I hope to be able to grow more plants for just for seed. There’s nothing better mid-winter than fresh sprouts, they not only feed our bodies but it’s a great way to get in some gardening in during the long winter!
Do you eat sprouts? Do you grow them yourself?
If you’re interested in reading more about the health benefits of herbs & spices I have purchased a few books and really like them, the first one is my favorite and I’d highly recommend it for health information and because it’s full of fabulous recipes for using spices.
Filed under Around the Garden | Comments (9)
I’ve never looked for sage leaves, guess I have some exploring to do! I just harvested my first chard seeds. It was a fun & beautiful process – i think the local good bugs enjoyed it too!
to Victoria's comment
Sage “seeds” :) whoops!
to Victoria's comment
Sage is a great herb isn’t it. I think it also has to be one of the easiest to grow! :O). I am saving a lot more seeds myself than ever before. Its a learning process, some are easy to save, some there is a bit more to it so I am learning :O).
to Texan's comment
Love the little jar you have your seeds saved in. Saving seeds is such a relaxing pasttime. Hope you find some wonderful ways to use your treasures!
to daisy's comment
I do enjoy sprouts…..mung, wheat, broccoli, onion etc….All of which I sprout myself. I have also added micro-greens to my plate this year and am really enjoying them! They are very easy to grow and one of the first things I ate this spring. So far this year I have saved my coriander from my cilantro and some blue delphinium. Last year I saved my eggplant and some varieties of tomato. I was trying to save some spinach this year but there seems to be some discrepancies between the male and female plant which I am unable to discern:)
to amy's comment
You know, I would never think to sprout sage seeds… that’s brilliant!!!
I actually keep a covered wine crate on my front porch that get’s shelter from a makeshift green house cover for winter producing… I will grow like Bok Choy and other hardier greens in it so at least I can get fresh leaves on sandwiches in the winter. It’s amazing what a little green can do during the bleak winters.
… But you’ll be plenty busy with your chickens, I bet! hee hee.
to Donna B.'s comment
Thanks for the reading tip.
I’m a huge believer that people can heal themselves more often by natural means. Seems that the latest health care events will make this information even more valuable.
Sprouts = lettuce and onions.
to Maybelline's comment
I dont eat too many sprouts anymore.unless they’re on a smorgasbord or I have a craving for them in a sandwich. I did often when I was a stay at home mom with my kids..
I would have never thought to try sage sprouts either, but at the rate Im going, thinking about anything other than what Im doing at the moment is beyond me. I live vicariously thru you & others in the blogsphere. ;)
to KimH's comment
our free range chickens love eating sage seeds
to Lloyd James Joynt's comment