When to Plant Sage in Tucson, Arizona (85708)

Location

Tucson, Arizona

ZIP Code

85708

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Based on last frost Tuesday, February 10, 2026 · Zone 9b

Pro tip: Start Sage seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Salvia officinalis

Days to Maturity 75 days

Mature Height 18-30"

Spread 24"

Type Shrub

Fruit Size N/A

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6+ hours)

💧

Water

Low to Moderate

↔️

Spacing

24" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 10-21 days

Ready to Plant Sage in Tucson?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🤝 Good Companions

RosemaryCabbageCarrotTomato

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

CucumberOnion

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Sage

See which plants help Sage thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Common Sage Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Common Sage

species

The standard culinary sage with grey-green leaves; essential in stuffings and pasta.

Purple Sage

cultivar

Striking purple-leaved variety with slightly milder flavor; ornamental and edible.

Tricolor

cultivar

Variegated purple, white, and green leaves; equally ornamental and culinary.

Berggarten

cultivar

German-origin variety with extra-large rounded leaves and exceptional flavor; rarely flowers.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Allow flower spikes to dry completely on the plant before collecting.

Processing

Strip seed heads, separate seeds from dried calyxes, store in cool dry place.

Seed Viability

Up to 3 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) seeds well. Ornamental varieties may be hybrids — check before saving.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 8 plants of Sage. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sage in Tucson, Arizona? +

In Tucson (Zone 9b), start Sage seeds indoors around Tuesday, December 16, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Tucson, Arizona? +

The average last spring frost date for Tucson, Arizona (ZIP 85708) is around Tuesday, February 10, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 9b.

How long does Sage take to grow? +

Sage typically matures in about 75 days from transplanting. In Tucson, that means you can expect harvest around Tuesday, February 24, 2026 plus 75 days.

Should I start Sage indoors or direct sow in Arizona? +

Sage should be started indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date. In Tucson, that means starting around Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

📚 More Sage Planting Guides

🗺️

Sage in Arizona

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 9b Sage Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Tucson

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Sage in Zone 9b

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a popular garden vegetable. In Tucson, Arizona, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b, you should start seeds indoors around Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Plan to transplant your Sage seedlings outdoors around Tuesday, February 24, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.