Allotments 4 All

When is it safe to prune thyme and sage?

(I really need to cut my sage bush back this weekend so I actually have room to get my shallots in - it's taking over the bed - or would that kill it?)

And can I take cuttings from both when I prune them?

Yes to cuttings from both when you prune, and if the sage is very woody, dig it out and grow fresh from seed.  Well, that is what I do.  It germinates very easily and you have a nice compact plant again with loads of soft tender leaves. With my thyme, I don't really need to prune it as I use so much it keeps it very neat and tidy, poor thing, but I would just nip over the tops with a pair of scissors.  If you really wanna keep the sage, I can't see why you couldn't trim it back now, I would probably trim a little, then a little more in a few weeks time, and then a little more a few weeks after that rather than give it a huge hair cut when it is still so cold and things haven't really sprung into growth yet.

Good idea EJ, my mum was cross with my dad for giving the sage a hair cut the other week -she'd none for the pork. What's worse I ended up missing the phone call and buying sage rather than taking our own up, still the pork was free (and v. tasty) ;D

Thanks both. That was my worry, EJ, about the cold. I think I'll just cut back the bits that are in the way and leave the rest til it's warmer.

I might try drying some of the prunings too. Actually being as we don't use that much, maybe they'd be better off on the compost.

As my parents have just moved house, I took some cuttings from their old thyme plant a month or so ago and they rooted ok in sandy compost (quarter sand 3 quarters GP compost) in a propagator at about 17 degrees C.

The problem with seeds is you can only get the plain thyme and sage for the variegated ones you need to take cuttings

Phil

I think the pruning should take place at the end oif the growing season to keep the plants as bushy as possible - but then where do you get fresh herbs during the winter?

Thyme and sage can become woody, so often harvesting and light pruning is ok.and will encourage leaf growth.
I prune lightly several times a year in in fall one third of the tops.
after 3 years I replace the plants, make cuttings. they root easy enough.

Lady C

When do you find cuttings take best?

Phil

Yes - need to know. We especially need to propagate our broad leaved thyme. = Tim

Thyme seems very easy when I've done it in early autumn. Sage has taken OK but I haven't managed to get it through to planting -lack of discipline.

Jeremy

Reminds me -must plant the year before lasts Thyme

Some sage varieties live 30 years and longer without dying in the middle, but most sages need light pruning.

I take cuttings of sage and thyme during late spring and summer. From healthy plants, only top growth cuttings. 90 % will root.
Cuttings taken later, sept, oktobre, take much longer to root.
Cutting about 5 inches, root within 3 weeks.

Lady C,

Many thanks

Phil