Are you growing sage in Arizona, but don’t know when the best time to harvest them is?

Harvesting sage is not as easy as it seems.

Here’s why:

• Sage have a very short window when they can be harvested and still taste great.

So if you harvest them too early they may not be ready and taste bad. And if you harvest them too late they may become infected with mold, fungus, insects, etc., and become inedible.

Today, I’m going to teach you the ideal time to harvest sage in Arizona:

• To Learn More About HOW to Grow Sage, Check Out This GUIDE!

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When Do I Harvest Sage in Arizona?

As you may have already guessed, there are two main factors that determine when you should harvest your sage: the physical features of the sage & weather (time).

Harvest Sage if They Look Like This!!!

The physical features of sage are what most gardeners commonly rely on to determine if they are ready to be picked off the plant or not.

In general, you should harvest sage if they have the following physical features:

• The entire sage is a solid red color. If the sage is a lighter shade of red, it is not ready to be harvested
• The sage is slightly soft. Too hard means it is not ready. Too soft means it is overripe (but still edible)
• Easily able to be deattached from the the plant. This means it has absorbed all the nutrients it needs and is ready.

Harvest Your Sage During THIS Time of Year!!!

In general, you should harvest sage:

• 65 to 85 days after starting sage from seed
• 40 to 50 days after planting sage in your garden
• 20 to 30 days after sage first appear

And no matter what, you should ALWAYS harvest your sage before the first frost of the year. Frost will immediately kill your sage plant and make your sage inedible.

For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Arizona. If your city is not listed below you can find its Last & First Frost Dates HERE.

Arizona Last & First Frost Dates

It should be noted that you should not overly rely on the first frost of the year. The average first frost of the year is only correct 30% of the time.

Instead, pay close attention to your local weather.

When you know a frost is coming you need to take action.

• If sage are in pots, bring them inside
• If sage are in the ground, cover them in burlap and hope they survive
• Pick all sage. If they are not ready, place them in a brown paper bag and store them for approximately 1 to 2 weeks to see if they become edible.

If you want to learn WHEN to harvest ANY Vegetable in Arizona, head over to HERE and just type in the vegetable you want to grow.